34 reviews
Review the doc, not the victims
- maximeharkness
- Dec 17, 2022
- Permalink
No longer a "humorous" rural legend
I hate to admit that when I first heard this story in passing years ago I found the unbelievable gullibility hilarious. I didn't know all the details and hadn't heard the human stories.
This sick, twisted person preyed upon people's respect for authority (which shouldn't be a bad thing) as well as their desire to help and prove their honesty.
I am a pretty cynical person and I went in thinking I would end up laughing at these people. It truly isn't funny.
The perpetrator should spend the rest of his life doing serious hard time. A prank isn't funny unless no one is hurt. I can't believe McDonald's didn't do more to warn managers and employees. That defense attorney is almost as bad as the perpetrator.
Kudos to the dedicated cops determined to crack this case.
This sick, twisted person preyed upon people's respect for authority (which shouldn't be a bad thing) as well as their desire to help and prove their honesty.
I am a pretty cynical person and I went in thinking I would end up laughing at these people. It truly isn't funny.
The perpetrator should spend the rest of his life doing serious hard time. A prank isn't funny unless no one is hurt. I can't believe McDonald's didn't do more to warn managers and employees. That defense attorney is almost as bad as the perpetrator.
Kudos to the dedicated cops determined to crack this case.
Interesting Story
- chopperDavo
- Dec 15, 2022
- Permalink
If the parents of the McDonald's manager and her husband turned out to be brother and sister, it would make a lot of sense
Mixed Feelings- Good thing? Bad thing?
Justice not served
Can't Believe This Can Happen
When I first started watching this documentary, I started laughing so hard at the unbelievable gullible manager and victim that was going along with what was being suggested on the phone - and was also laughing at the narrator's description of what was happening. At first it seemed like it was one incident in a small southern town and I was thinking I can't believe there are towns out there where people could be so innocent and believe such a thing. Being from Chgo suburbs I thought this would never happen where I live - no one could fall for such a thing. Then they got into how many incidents all over the United States this happened, and started announcing the towns and I couldn't believe that it happened also in Oak Brook, IL - my stomping grounds - and the actual headquarters at the time of the fast food company. By the time the doc was all over I still can't believe quite honestly that people fall for this, but it wasn't so funny anymore. I am sure that there are many other victims out there that are just so embarrassed that they got taken they never reported it and suffered all alone, so if it helps others to see this, there is value in airing it and also for a warning to not be afraid to speak up; know your rights at work.
- PalmBeachG
- Jan 5, 2023
- Permalink
An unfortunate true story about finger pointing
Wasn't too hooked on watching this at first. I was thinking what's the worst that could happen from a prank phone call? The story is incredibly sad and dark. The fact that this person did this with the idea that it wouldn't come back to them is horrible and disturbing.
The aftermath is basically a blame game and it gets pretty toxic. It all started with one individual's cruelty snowballing into innocent victims and their supervisors not being able to distinguish right from wrong. The domino effect leaves some with traumatic experiences and ruins the lives of suckers who do not think twice.
I always love Netflix docs, and while this is no exception, it breaks my heart to watch people being preyed on.
The aftermath is basically a blame game and it gets pretty toxic. It all started with one individual's cruelty snowballing into innocent victims and their supervisors not being able to distinguish right from wrong. The domino effect leaves some with traumatic experiences and ruins the lives of suckers who do not think twice.
I always love Netflix docs, and while this is no exception, it breaks my heart to watch people being preyed on.
- DanTheButler
- Dec 21, 2022
- Permalink
Intriguing account of deception!
- camerong-73357
- Dec 18, 2022
- Permalink
I have never been so angry
All Over the Place
- zacharykelly
- Dec 22, 2022
- Permalink
Excellent Telling of Horrific Events
- marymcfarland-01866
- Dec 14, 2022
- Permalink
What It Shows
This program illustrates the fundamental moral depravity of the American people, the depravity of the McDonald's corporation, and the fact that no one should ever believe anything from police or others in authority. The fact that McDonald's managers in a position of authority were so eager to commit depraved crimes just because someone suggested it it to them is proof that the US is powerless against an evil, illegitimate government, an evil corporate oligarchy, and a general population that is ready willing and able to commit evil.
America is a lost nation. It is Sodom and Gomorrah on a supernatural scale.
This program illustrates the fundamental moral depravity of the American people, the depravity of the McDonald's corporation, and the fact that no one should ever believe anything from police or others in authority. The fact that McDonald's managers in a position of authority were so eager to commit depraved crimes just because someone suggested it it to them is proof that the US is powerless against an evil, illegitimate government, an evil corporate oligarchy, and a general population that is ready willing and able to commit evil.
America is a lost nation. It is Sodom and Gomorrah on a supernatural scale.
America is a lost nation. It is Sodom and Gomorrah on a supernatural scale.
This program illustrates the fundamental moral depravity of the American people, the depravity of the McDonald's corporation, and the fact that no one should ever believe anything from police or others in authority. The fact that McDonald's managers in a position of authority were so eager to commit depraved crimes just because someone suggested it it to them is proof that the US is powerless against an evil, illegitimate government, an evil corporate oligarchy, and a general population that is ready willing and able to commit evil.
America is a lost nation. It is Sodom and Gomorrah on a supernatural scale.
- doctorfixit
- Jan 8, 2023
- Permalink
Hard to watch
Hard to watch if you are an intelligent, educated person, because you can't believe anyone could be so stupid as to believe they have the authority to strip search a fast food employee EVER under ANY circumstances unless they are cops. But these - uneducated, credulous, fearful - are precisely the "right" people to target if you want to scare them into heinous acts. Show is VERY slow paced, as these shows always are, stretching a one hour show into three hours. You have to give the culprit credit for his cunning, although you also have to realize what a pathetic worm he is that THIS is the way he has to get his kicks. Moral? We need to - NEED TO - educate our populace better. We need to value education in this country.
- capncack-71131
- Dec 15, 2022
- Permalink
A rather sad indictment on American society
A bit of a tough watch, but well worth seeing all the same. Two things that stuck me with this horrible saga is, apart from the terrible situation the employees found themselves in, the police who investigated the guy, arrested him with rather weak evidence that certainly was not 'beyond reasonable doubt'. We could see that as soon as they arrested him, it would be a long shot. They should have identified him and followed him to ensure that his purchase of phone cards was not just a coincidence with the call times.
The second thing that strikes me is the total obedience to authority figures that Americans seem to have (maybe this id due to the amount of police shootings there are?). Granted it's a cultural thing, but no way in hell in my country, would a manager (male or female) strip search a young female (in the back office) because a 'policeman' on the phone tells them too!
Literally unbelievable. Just feel for the young ladies caught up in this.
The second thing that strikes me is the total obedience to authority figures that Americans seem to have (maybe this id due to the amount of police shootings there are?). Granted it's a cultural thing, but no way in hell in my country, would a manager (male or female) strip search a young female (in the back office) because a 'policeman' on the phone tells them too!
Literally unbelievable. Just feel for the young ladies caught up in this.
- pearsonc-86221
- Aug 30, 2023
- Permalink
Despicable crime
- tsta-35379
- Dec 15, 2022
- Permalink
Review the doc...
The documentary was difficult to watch because of the content, but many of the reviews here are scoring it low because of the content the documentary presented rather than the way they presented it. If you aren't fascinated by the events, don't watch, but scoring a documentary low because you can't believe how stupid people can be is pretty stupid, as well. The documentary was well made. It could be slow at times, but overall, it did a great job presenting the information from the cases and balancing that info with true victims' statements. It's hard to believe that people could be so gullible and how compliant people can be when an authority figure is doing the instructing.
Could have been just one episode or max two!
I fast forwarded through many parts and still got the whole story. In an effort to maximize the shock effect on viewers, the same things are said over and over again and it all just really drags out. It becomes annoying very fast.
It could have fittet well as an one episode program; max two episodes, but I guess that doesn't sell as well?
It is of course still an interesting story and crazy how some people blindly follow instructions.
I should almost say "don't pick up these series" but it's still interedting to see, I would have just liked it a lot better if they weren't cooking so much soup on it. One or two episodes would have been plenty.
It could have fittet well as an one episode program; max two episodes, but I guess that doesn't sell as well?
It is of course still an interesting story and crazy how some people blindly follow instructions.
I should almost say "don't pick up these series" but it's still interedting to see, I would have just liked it a lot better if they weren't cooking so much soup on it. One or two episodes would have been plenty.
- iristhorvalds
- Dec 15, 2022
- Permalink
Horrific and Tragic
- helenahandbasket-93734
- Dec 15, 2022
- Permalink
Why did the prosecutor not use voice witnesses?
- nicktravascio
- Dec 21, 2022
- Permalink
Incredibely horrible set of events
I'll try my best avoiding the spoilers but I have to say that this story is indeed telling. I understand that law enforcement in United States is (and has to be) taken very seriously but still, one may not blindly follow everything a guy, acting as a police officer, say over the phone. Especially, when what he says is absurd beyond doubt, and obviously criminal. Managers who complied were either intelectually challenged, thought they need to protect the company and their jobs even if it took to treat an employee inhumanely - or - they simply wanted to believe, or pretended to believe they have a credible get-out-of-jail explanation to commit sexual assault which they have dearly enjoyed. And the most intriguing question of all - why make a three episode document with such outcome, when it was perfectly clear, that most questions cannot be answered?
Cognitive Dissonance 101
Breathtaking True Crime Documentary with Profound Psychology Lessons
You probably heard the story years ago about the guy who impersonated a cop telling a fast food manager over the phone to strip search one of the employees and the manager actually did that and more! Guess what ? It not only really happened, but it happened 70 times over the course of a decade across 30+ states and was captured on CCTV footage!! Like Sacha Baron Cohen playing Borat, this pervert liked to have fun at the expense of simple naive folks in small towns, but takes it to a level of sexual criminality that will blow your mind. I have to admit seeing it happen the first time, I couldn't help laughing my ass off at the spectacular gullibility of these rubes, but by the end of the film I was reminded that not everyone in this country is a cynical college-educated prick who never had to work at McDonalds and wept at the way these good people were deceived and abused and how very few got justice.
- tobydammit-2
- Dec 18, 2022
- Permalink
A true story of our sad state of affairs
This is a documentary about a con man who impersonated a cop calling fast food restaurants and convincing the manager on duty that a female in the restaurant had stolen money from another customer. The caller then convinced the manager to take the woman into the back room and have her remove her clothing and conduct various weird or perverted acts in the name of justice.
Tough to know where to begin. It's hard to believe this happened - but I vaguely remember hearing about it on the news. The perpetrator has to be a sick, despicable individual. Those who were fooled are utterly stupid and/or brainwashed people who revere authority over humanity.
I agree completely with other reviewers who've say this is a horrible crime, the crime itself it not at the top of my list. What was more troubling, and should concern us all is that our society has reached the point where such a thing can happen over and over again. It's not so much a case of a random bunch of stupid people taken in by a criminal. More accurately it signals our complete separation from reality and our need to be told what to do. I found watching this was sickening, as it comes with the realization that we are at the mercy of the sharks that rule us. The story told here shows what has resulted from the measures they've taken to ensure we follow blindly and thank them for their guidance.
This story happened from the mid-90s to 2011 and was basically the canary, dead in the coal mine.
Thanks to our government and it's manipulation of the educational system and mass media, critical thinking is obsolete. The old phrase QUESTION AUTHORITY is meaningless to generations X,Y and Z. We stand at the crosswalks and wait to be told to cross the street in the brave new world and perverts like David Stewart can tell people he's a cop and they turn into mindless, compliant zombies who will torture innocent people on command.
Why is it we're conditioned not to question cops when they're supposed to be public servants? And for that matter why are all cops now looking like they're equipped for combat duty? This is a reflection of the type of society we've become and if you're in your right mind, it should make you sick.
I've noticed that many reviewers pour all their emotions into the sick sadsack that committed the crime and the stupid people who followed his orders. While that is deplorable, the large issue here is our future.
This documentary is effectively a case study that exposes this sociuety's sickness. Yes, it's worth watching.
Tough to know where to begin. It's hard to believe this happened - but I vaguely remember hearing about it on the news. The perpetrator has to be a sick, despicable individual. Those who were fooled are utterly stupid and/or brainwashed people who revere authority over humanity.
I agree completely with other reviewers who've say this is a horrible crime, the crime itself it not at the top of my list. What was more troubling, and should concern us all is that our society has reached the point where such a thing can happen over and over again. It's not so much a case of a random bunch of stupid people taken in by a criminal. More accurately it signals our complete separation from reality and our need to be told what to do. I found watching this was sickening, as it comes with the realization that we are at the mercy of the sharks that rule us. The story told here shows what has resulted from the measures they've taken to ensure we follow blindly and thank them for their guidance.
This story happened from the mid-90s to 2011 and was basically the canary, dead in the coal mine.
Thanks to our government and it's manipulation of the educational system and mass media, critical thinking is obsolete. The old phrase QUESTION AUTHORITY is meaningless to generations X,Y and Z. We stand at the crosswalks and wait to be told to cross the street in the brave new world and perverts like David Stewart can tell people he's a cop and they turn into mindless, compliant zombies who will torture innocent people on command.
Why is it we're conditioned not to question cops when they're supposed to be public servants? And for that matter why are all cops now looking like they're equipped for combat duty? This is a reflection of the type of society we've become and if you're in your right mind, it should make you sick.
I've noticed that many reviewers pour all their emotions into the sick sadsack that committed the crime and the stupid people who followed his orders. While that is deplorable, the large issue here is our future.
This documentary is effectively a case study that exposes this sociuety's sickness. Yes, it's worth watching.
- george-coufos1
- Dec 18, 2022
- Permalink
A lot of stupid, gullible people out there
I've a had a lot of people tell me I'm too harsh on the people who fell for this scam...then they go on to say that "I would have fallen for it ...being intimidated by a cop on the phone."
Half-right: I may have started out believing it, but as soon as they started a strip search I would have said "get down here and do it yourself."
It's a very well done documentary, and MacDonalds does deserve a huge share of the blame for this, but that Boston cop made a really stupid tactical error (you'll see.)
Either way, very sad that there are people this stupid and this irresponsible and they are largely to blame for this whole sordid affair.
The "I was brought up to respect authority" excuse doesn't work here, not when the person is on the phone and not a physical threat.
The final verdict of the perp was a fitting way to tell the people of this country: smarten up, morons or else worse will happen.
Half-right: I may have started out believing it, but as soon as they started a strip search I would have said "get down here and do it yourself."
It's a very well done documentary, and MacDonalds does deserve a huge share of the blame for this, but that Boston cop made a really stupid tactical error (you'll see.)
Either way, very sad that there are people this stupid and this irresponsible and they are largely to blame for this whole sordid affair.
The "I was brought up to respect authority" excuse doesn't work here, not when the person is on the phone and not a physical threat.
The final verdict of the perp was a fitting way to tell the people of this country: smarten up, morons or else worse will happen.