History Main / LuredIntoATrap

* ''{{Series/Legion|2017}}'': In "[[Recap/LegionS3E7Chapter26 Chapter 26]]", David Haller explains to his father Charles Xavier that he has been caught in Amahl Farouk's web (the latter likes to think of himself as a spider).

* ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'': A disguised Robin Hood easily wins the archery tournament, and seemingly about to be praised by Prince John, but..

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/21628033/chapters/51573334 Couturiere]]'' lures Lila into a trap by having Alya call and invite her to a 'study date', which is supposedly a cover story for a party the class is holding in her honor. [[ItsAllAboutMe Lila falls for it]] hook, line and sinker.

* In ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'', Nitro takes his revenge on Bob by sending him a fake invitation to a Hackmaster {{LARP}} at Hawg Wallers. In this case, there's no specific trap or enemy waiting there; Nitro (correctly) assumes that Bob will shoot off his mouth and get his ass kicked by the bar's rough-and-tumble clientele.

* Attempted several times in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' such as when Gosunkugi has tried to trick Ranma.

* Used in ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'' on [[TheHero Ken]]. He wants to find his father, who's been presumed dead for years, so Galactor sends an old friend saying he's seen him.

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': Tim is able to trick Dodge's group into walking straight into an ambush by the ComicBook/TeenTitans by making the criminals believe a fellow walking through the park at night is himself out of costume, when it's really [[ComicBook/{{Zatanna}} Zachary Zatara]].

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/21628033/chapters/51573334 Couturiere]]'' lures Lila into a trap by having Alya call and invite her to a 'study date', which is supposedly a cover story for a party the class is holding in her honor. [[ItsAllAboutMe Lila falls for it]] hook, line and sinker.

* ''Film/TwentyYearsAfter'': Sara's group gets ambushed when going into another city by some survivors that want her baby.

* In the Creator/JorgeLuisBorges short story ''Death and the Compass'', [[spoiler:the series of [[ConnectTheDeaths connected deaths]] were done for the purpose of luring the detective to a specific location, where his enemy can kill him]].

* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'', Harry and his friends are lured to the Department of Mysteries under the pretense that Voldemort has Harry's godfather, Sirius. It turns out (surprise, surprise) to be a Death Eater ambush, and [[spoiler:Sirius ironically dies at the end when he tries to save them.]]

* ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'' has a scene where a great number of soldiers of the Queens' Justice, led by Princess Ren, go after a mill where they know some of the enemy are hiding. Aware that it could be a trap, Eldest and Corelle Whistler go out ahead of them. The enemy turned out to have ''cannons'', and with the soldiers filling the street...
* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', the King in the North loses the War of Five Kings despite winning every battle when he is lured into a trap orchestrated by the Lannisters, the Freys, and the Boltons. The resultant massacre has since been known as the "Red Wedding".
* Not to be outdone by their film counterparts, ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' is rife with traps, usually declared with [[RunningGag Ackbar's immortal line]] (sometimes lampshaded). Take, for instance, the Yuuzhan Vong attack on Borleias, which (for complex reasons) included the following line:
-->'''Piggy''': [[PurpleProse I sense a trap closing around us]], Goddess!
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' novel [[Recap/NewSeriesAdventuresEnginesofWar "Engines of War"]], the Doctor does this to Dalek ships, enabling battle [=TARDISes=] to destroy them. Then it turns out to be a Dalek trap and the battle [=TARDISes=] are destroyed by Dalek Stealth Ships. The concept of traps and ambushes comes back into the narrative often.

* In "The Surgeon" (the first Literature/RizzoliAndIsles book), Detective Jane Rizzoli rushes into a basement after hearing Dr. Catherine Cordell screaming. However, even as she starts to untie her, she has the nagging feeling that something's wrong. She suddenly realizes that Cordell is ''gagged'', meaning that the SerialRapist [=/=]SerialKiller that she's been looking for must have removed the gag and forced Cordell to scream in order to invoke this trope on her. A few chapters earlier, he invoked this on Cordell herself by staging an emergency call from the hospital to get her to leave the safety of her apartment.

* The pilot episode of ''Series/Daredevil2015'' ends with our hero Matt Murdock leaping into action to save a kidnapped boy. The following episode opens with Matt being found in a dumpster with multiple injuries--turns out the kidnapping was a setup by the Russian mafia who were out to get Daredevil.

* The 6-29-2019 WWC show opened with Universal Champion Gilbert singing the praises of a young talent, who turned out to be Bellito Calderon, and invited him to the arena and then ring for a title match. An overjoyed Calderon accepted but was assaulted by a folding chair wielding Pedro Portillo III before he got close to Gilbert. And just to make it clear it ''[[KickTheDog was]]'' his idea, Gilbert joined in on the assault as soon as Bellito could no longer fight back. Exactly why Gilbert, who until this point had been feuding with Orlando Colon, hated Bellito enough to do this was never made clear but it did earn Gilbert the ire of not just Orlando but every baby {{face}} in WWC.

* In ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsHitAndRun'', at Kamp Krusty in the Level 3 and 6 Map, there is a well that sparkles Blue, much like the Gags required for 100% completion do. However, upon interacting with it, the player will discover that it is not a Gag, but rather a trap that teleports the player far away.
** Averted in mods for the game, where it can be used as a shortcut in certain missions (no mission in the actual game can make use of this.).
* A mission in the West Side Rollerz mission chain in ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'' features you being lured to a pool hall only to be attacked by Rollerz.

* In the Green Sabre mission from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', Sweet and the Grove Street crew are preparing to take the fight to their enemies, the Ballas. But when C.J. is called away by Cesar, he learns that [[spoiler:Smoke and Ryder have sold them out and have joined Tenpenny and the Ballas, that they may have been behind the drive-by that killed C.J.'s mom]], and that Sweet and the others are being led into a trap. It ends badly, for C.J., Sweet and Grove Street in general.
* The original ''{{VideoGame/Diablo}}'' had Archbishop Lazarus leading a group of people from Tristram into the Cathedral to rescue Prince Albrecht, the little boy who he himself made a vessel for the title archdemon. He lured them into the second level, where he left them to die at the hands of the demonic Butcher. Griswold and Farnham were the only survivors of the attack, which left Griswold with a crippled leg and Farnham with a shattered mind and a broken spirit.
* This happens to Dante in the first, third, and fourth ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' games. In the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 first]], it's because the BigBad has a serious grudge against Dante's father Sparda. In the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening third]] and [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 fourth]], it's because Dante's blood connection to Sparda makes him a vital component in unsealing whatever power the villains hope to unleash.
* One of the earlier missions of ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars 2: Black Hole Rising'' has Sami follow intel that Flak, the resident DumbMuscle of the villains side, is at a location "resting his troops". Instead she encounters the MadScientist Lash, who planted said intel, with a hardened force, access to a factory, and with reinforcements en-route in a mere 7 days. It's the first mission in the game that's ''very'' easy to lose, as nothing less than pitch perfect play will let you win (and even then you're likely to finish on day 6 or 7), and effectively is the point where the enemy [=COs=] [[WakeUpCallBoss stop messing around and get serious]].
* At the end of Episode 4 of ''VideoGame/LifeIsStrange'', Max and Chloe are lured to the junkyard [[spoiler: by Jefferson]], [[spoiler:who then shoots Chloe and kidnaps Max]].

* In ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'', upon reaching the New Vegas Strip you are granted a personal audience with the titular leader of Caesar's Legion, with the ambassador giving you a token that grants you a free pass to their fortress. Upon reaching Caesar, if you've been causing trouble for the Legion he will list out all the ways you've been a pain in the ass for him and states that you're going to die here and now... Only for him to state that he's joking and that he really is trying to get you to work for him.
* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'': The trap would be rather obvious to onlookers. You see an enemy on-screen move into a room, and said room contains a wizard - he then says he will guide you to the place where you shall find the Crest. The treasure chest he leads you to is empty, instead you are ambushed by four Gremlins and need to defeat them before getting the Stars Crest.

* Attempted by Peter in ''Webcomic/JoeVsElanSchool'', who calls Joe after Joe graduates from Elan, and says that he drove 500 miles specifically to see Joe for a friendly chit-chat. Ultimately averted, as Joe [[GenreSavvy immediately sees through this]] since the two had a very bad history while at Elan School, he knows that there's absolutely no good reason for Peter to [[TheVillainKnowsWhereYouLive know Joe's address and phone number]], and hears other voices whispering in the background.

* In ''Roleplay/TheGamersAlliance'', the Alliance often ends up lured into traps such as when [[LadyOfBlackMagic Shyralis]] and [[WhiteHairBlackHeart Izael]] lure [[TheLadette Ax's]] team to a library where they betray the team, locking them inside the room and leaving them to face the [[LivingShadow Shadow]].

* ''WebVideo/ResidentEvilAbridged'': The members of S.T.A.R.S. Alpha are lured to [[MalevolentArchitecture the Spencer Mansion]] on what they were lead to believe was a search and rescue mission for Bravo Team. Except it's a ruse by [[MoleInCharge their captain, Wesker]], so he can kill them off to cover up his involvement with Umbrella.

* This happens to Dante in the first, third, and fourth ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' games. In the first, it's because the BigBad has a serious grudge against Dante's father Sparda. In the third and fourth, it's because Dante's blood connection to Sparda makes him a vital component in unsealing whatever power the villains hope to unleash.

* The pilot episode of ''Series/Daredevil2015'' ends with our hero Matt Murdock [[AndTheAdventureContinues leaping into action to save a kidnapped boy]]. The following episode opens with Matt being found in a dumpster with multiple injuries--turns out the kidnapping was a setup by the Russian mafia who were out to get Daredevil.

* In the Green Sabre mission from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'', Sweet and the Grove Street crew are preparing to take the fight to their enemies, the Ballas. But when C.J. is called away by Cesar, he learns that [[spoiler:Smoke and Ryder have sold them out and have joined Tenpenny and the Ballas]], and that Sweet and the others are being led into a trap. It ends badly, for C.J., Sweet and Grove Street in general.

* Attempted by Peter in ''Webcomic/JoeVsElanSchool'', who calls Joe after Joe graduates from Elan, and says that he drove 500 miles specifically to see Joe. Ultimately averted, as Joe [[GenreSavvy immediately sees through this]] since the two had a very bad history while at Elan School, knows that there's absolutely no good reason for Peter to [[TheVillainKnowsWhereYouLive know Joe's address and phone number]], and hears other voices whispering in the background.

* In ''FanFic/AgeOfDragons'', Hawke is lured into a clearly obvious trap by someone pointing out that the trap is probably more interesting than what he's doing at the moment.
* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/21628033/chapters/51573334 Couturiere]]'' lures Lila into a trap by having Alya call and invite her to a 'study date', which is supposedly a cover story for a party the class is holding in her honor. [[ItsAllAboutMe Lila falls for it]] hook, line and sinker.

A character is given a seemingly innocent reason to go to a specific location, but it turns out to be a trick; rather than what they were expecting, they find their enemy lying in wait to capture or kill them. There are many different ways this could be played out: they could be a detective looking for a vital clue or meeting an informant; someone trying to [[BigDamnHeroes heroically rescue]] one of their comrades; or even just someone delivering a message or package. But whatever they expected to find there, it was just a ruse; in fact, they've been lured into a trap.

* In the ''LetsPlay/DreamSMP'': After an encounter gone wrong, the L'Manburgians hide in a bunker prepared by Eret. Except [[spoiler:Eret reveals himself to be a [[RebelliousRebel traitor]] and activates a piston door in the wall, allowing Dream and his allies to storm the bunker and kill the L'Manburgians in a CurbStompBattle]].

* In the ''LetsPlay/{{Dream}}'' [=SMP=]: After an encounter gone wrong, the L'Manburgians hide in a bunker prepared by Eret. Except [[spoiler: Eret reveals himself to be a traitor and activates a piston door in the wall, allowing Dream and his allies to storm the bunker and kill the L'Manburgians in a CurbStompBattle]].

* ''Film/EightBallClown'': At the beginning of the movie, a pregnant woman comes to 8-Ball's house to answer his ad for free baby stuff. He tells her they're in the basement, and leads her down there. As they head down, 8-Ball injects something into her that renders her unconscious.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Etta talks to ComicBook/SteveTrevor and a group of USAAF men outside a cave they know some Nazis are in for about two minutes, before telling him and the rest of the men that she's bringing the Nazis to them so they ought to hide. She then runs into the cave, screams, and runs out with the Nazis following her right into an ambush.

* In ''ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable'', Nitro takes his revenge on Bob by sending him a fake invitation to a Hackmaster {{LARP}} at Hawg Wallers. In this case, there's no specific trap or enemy waiting there; Nitro (correctly) assumes that Bob will shoot off his mouth and get his ass kicked by the bar's rough-and-tumble clientele.

* ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'' Tim is able to trick Dodge's group into walking straight into an ambush by the ComicBook/TeenTitans by making the criminals believe a fellow walking through the park at night is himself out of costume, when it's really [[ComicBook/{{Zatanna}} Zachary Zatara]].