Honest compliment to start conversation or stranger danger?

So I'll admit to this, recent weeks when I do get to go out to run errands or just hang out with others it's kinda difficult to talk to people, at least around my area. Not even gonna touch conventions since it's all for the attention (it seems at least, I have to be proven wrong, not someone else's experience saying that I am) but even in public out shopping, mall, fun park, at class, etc. any confident reach out to the opposite sex first gives a smile and/or thanks, then a speedy retreat when I try to extend any conversation, which isn't even anything wierd but the usual "How you doing?" and/or any equivilant of said question. Even when setup by volunteering wingman friend(s) to give more comfortable area, nothing more than a have to go while they, you know, stay. Before the confidence card gets played, I do approach more times than get approached at any chance meeting so don't say something like "You just need more confidence in yourself" because that's crap (and none of that "No it isn't because you're complaining" thing. If I had no confidence I wouldn't be doing anything at all.) So I ask this: what are different ways to approach a person without what looks like coming off as someone looking for a one nighter or something like that? Either I'm wrong being myself or something. Yeah I'm asking sincerely, so I'd like a sincere answer and not a brush off. Got too many of those just trying to talk to others the last few weeks.

Honestly, you could compliment them on something, for example their scarf. I'd say "That's a rad scarf" After that you can either follow up with another statement after they say thanks, or you can ask them a question or 2. So basically in order to approach somebody, you can state something about them, give them a compliment, or you can ask them a question. "Hey do you know what time is it?" "I like your shoes" Don't say compliments like, your eyes are beautiful. Avoid complimenting them on personal things like their eyes or hair etc until your relationship with them deepens, because they'd find it creepy since you're a stranger to them right now. Don't be overaly nice, and not too overly cold either. Keep the conversation going with questions or statements, and you should do just fine. (You probably know some of this, I'm just generally telling most of the steps and pathways)

People are delusional even complimenting on clothes can lead to this red light of ' Stranger Danger ' because people are just paranoia either that or they weave the stories in there head. I remember once I complimented my guy friend when me and my friends were at the beach on his trunks cause they were jet black with yellow lightning bolts and I thought it was rad and he was like after. ' Sorry I'm not interested in fat girls and I'm taken. ' AND I WAS LIKE WHERE THE FUCK DID YOU EVEN THINK I WAS INTO YOU I WAS JUST COMPLEMENTING YOUR TRUNKS. FFFHNNGG -FLIPS DESK-