Why did this NPC attack me?

[blowdog]

I was sat there scooping fuel when I got interdicted out - which is IMPOSSIBLE to evade when you aren't moving in supercruise.
Anyway as I was pulled out, he conned green to me at first, which was strange - even though he had a wanted tag.

He said "I just want your cargo" and then started to shoot the crap out of me.

Now the strange thing is, why does he con green at me?
Second, why did he attack me given I had ZERO cargo at the time?

Should NPC pirates do a cargo scan before they attack you?

 

[FaolGlas]

Green because he is in a faction you are friendly with.

His comment about dropping cargo reveals what he is - a pirate. NPC pirates will open fire if you don't drop cargo (and maybe if you do.) The text is more there to let you know this is an unsavoury type and not the Feds stopping you for a scan, more than it is "sensible" (in that it happens to me and I rarely carry cargo.)

 

[blowdog]

Green because he is in a faction you are friendly with.

His comment about dropping cargo reveals what he is - a pirate. NPC pirates will open fire if you don't drop cargo (and maybe if you do.) The text is more there to let you know this is an unsavoury type and not the Feds stopping you for a scan, more than it is "sensible" (in that it happens to me and I rarely carry cargo.)

An indiscriminate pirate. Who'da thought it.

 

[burzum]

Now the strange thing is, why does he con green at me?

Second, why did he attack me given I had ZERO cargo at the time?

The game is not really very logical in many situations. If a friendly NPC is about to attack somebody it should happen with some nice role playing elements and he should have a good reason to do so. Looks like the game just fails again and just rolls some dices and not being aware of relationships between players and factions...

 

[Tiamat]

Did you notice he didn't scan you? Not all pirates can afford cargo scanners so they just take pot luck with their targets and attack random ships hoping to get lucky. Check subtargets in your left UI and you will see there is no scanner.

 

[Kalearne]

I'm sure ive evaded an interdiction in supercruise while I was at min speed scooping, you've just got to remember to throttle up