No hugs for strangers here. I actually enjoy hugging people I know but strangers are creepy...especially with a big sign and seeking out other strangers to hug. I agree that I would be suspicious of ulterior motives (theft, etc) but mostly I would think they were either strange (too strange to hug - mental illness maybe??) or a perv (if it was a guy). The whole idea kinda creeps me out. Sad, I know.
The only time I would hug a stranger with a sign is if they were a sweet little child or sweet old grandma. If they were a child, I'd probably report it though cause then you have all the creepy strangers who would LOVE to hug small children swarming and that's creepy too!
Such a sad, suspicious, cynical world we live in but the times call for it I think.
