Ne Décrochez Pas

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.