McDonald's Scam Call Case Analysis | Obedience to Authority Meets Gullibility
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- čas přidán 1. 09. 2021
- This video answers the question: Can I analyze the 2004 McDonald’s scam call case?
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I've seen families where the kids are conditioned to never say no to an adult. This is incredibly dangerous.
Is that true? Any adult?
@@eadweard. It's crazy, but it's like it didn't cross their mind that there are apparently "normal" adults out there that would harm a child. If the adult's not "scary," by whatever their definition is, do what your told. It's like they were unable or afraid talk about the possiblity of harm being done to children by "respectable" people.
@@eadweard. I've seen this, too. It's not the usual thing, but it isn't rare.
That's how I was raised. They only adult I could say no to was a strager. t was rude to say no...
@@eadweard. It is absolutely true.
So, McDonald's expects an 18 year old to be smart enough to challenge what was happening but the manager, who I'm sure was much older, isn't held to the same standards?
YES! Thank you.
What if that manager of the Macdonald's start up was only 18 years of age?
I would definitely expect a 10 year old to challenge the situation lmfao..
@@francesbernard2445 Be that as it may, I would hope that if an 18 year old has the maturity to manage a McDonald's they would be held to a higher standard than their employees. However, that wasn't the case here, and judging by the thumbnail the assistant manager was clearly middle aged and should have known better. But she got a slap on the wrist AND a sizeable payout - about half of what the victim did. The only thing that manager was a victim of was her own stupidity, but I guess it paid off for her in the long run.
@@francesbernard2445 she wasn't. I believe she was in her 30s or 40s.
What makes me the most mad is that the female manager, instead of going to jail where she belongs, sued McDonalds for not training her not to call her boyfriend to the store to molest the employees.
Just....baffled. What was she even suing for? Emotional distress of committing a crime? I dont even understand the basis for the case let alone how she won it!?!? Props to her lawyers, they deserve every penny of their commission for this case. She sued her employers because a call came in that was nothing to do with them and which led her to commit or atleast aide and abet assault which is against the company policies and yet mcdonalds are liable...??? Sorry im just trying to work through how that even is right
same here
I too wondered, how on Earth win!? Interesting on appeal.
It seems possible somehting to the effect of small businesses such as independent franchises should have been aware of the scamming, someone or some someone's doing fraudulent police inquiries & requests. For both I expect self interest (business) & public safety concerns they have the responsibility to insure management is educated of the possibility and trained how to respond should the situation present.
If the manager was unaware of the possibility, or able to make the claim, and training for situation response (must be some, fire, theft, assult) did not fit into one of those, they were liable for inadequate employee training.
And what if abide by all law enforcement instructions WAS included in the training received! Under no circumstances question police authority?
BTW I disagree, based on what doctor Grande has presented. There is simply too much lack of common sense required for a management position. Glad at least the amount was reduced. Wonder if that was akin to a settled out of court (either she or her lawyer were unwilling to accept the amount offered to make it go away) and if her Alfred plead had any bearing. I'm inclined to think it is the attorney, remember they only get a percentage of the win. 😉
I don't know which one is dummer, her or her boyfriend.🤣
What makes me most mad is that Andrews was found not guilty after all of the evidence they found. Cmon!
I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that people would believe a cop would operate like this... Legally.
KY...FL. Not the most educated population.
@@crystalkohlbrenner214 It's a matter of ethics, principles and morals. I'm just dumbfounded at how many people ignore their conscience.
@@nataliesue2485 I'm just waiting on the asteroid.
@@nataliesue2485 Also, remember, some people's conscience say: "Yay. I get to humilitate this young woman." You can't tell me they didn't enjoy it.
@@crystalkohlbrenner214 Good point 😣
"oh you want to control my mind?...go ahead, I dont use it anyway" Perfect Dr Grande.
@@fern7306 *sarcastic
@@fern7306 That could be why he has such a successful channel and fans who LOVE his humour, and nothing to do with being a dick who is arrogant ?.....could this possibly be a case of "PROJECTION" going on here ?
@@fern7306 It was a roast, of course it's kind of a dick thing to say.
@бот TRUMP?Dont live in the USA those of us that dont , well dont give a shit either way.
Obedience to authority, combined with extreme gullibility....sounds like most Americans these days.
Perhaps if they encouraged active critical thinking and common sense at school? Rather than rigid obedience
Excellent comment!
You are right on the spot! I have always said that high school should focus on life-skills and how to actually survive real life! I taught high school and made it a point to include life skills even tho I taught Biological Sciences! Humans are supposedly the highest creatures on Earth. If parents or churches don't teach their children these skills, then teachers need to. We send kids into the world with knowledge they will never use again! College doesn't do much more!
@@d-marierasberry3449 I'm not sure if I would want the church to teach me any life skills.
But that wouldn't create good little worker drones.
@@d-marierasberry3449 my mother taught me nothing. Most parents stop raising their kids once they hit teen years. They think we're supposed to just know and figure it out as we go
phone pranks back in the days: Is your refrigerator running?
phone pranks in 2000s: Hello could you sexually assault your employee? It's ok I'm a cop.
Could I speak to Semore? Semore who? See more butts🤣
My current job is tech support for a compact appliance company - people over and over call in and say their refrigerator isn't running
Wow your right. We used to call taxis for our neighbors just to watch them pull-up and leave.
@@kristis4147 that’s a dick move but also hilarious
There really, truly and 💯 was a man named Richard M. Nixon listed in the phone directories that arrived annually when I was a a tween till 14. At every slumber party, my friends had me doing Ernestine impressions and call this man,
"Is this Richard Milhouse?? This is Ernestine, Mr. President."
I'd call him at 2 a.m., waking him up. He was a very good sport about it! 😄😆🤣
As someone who has worked in several fast food restaurants, my coworkers are usually this stupid. The story is horrific, but not surprising
I think they are very gullible, not stupid. It’s just the corporate failed in training them on escalation process.
I wouldn't be surprised either... although in my country I've met physicians this stupid, ready to enforce authoritarian attitudes and submission... does it hit home?
I don't think it's stupidity; it's gullibility. I've worked in several retail locations, and scams are very common. It's usually people that are in uniform, or look professional, and are well spoken. So a lot of the times the employee, usually if they're very young or new, doesn't question them. They just don't want to mess anything up & they think that they're doing what they're supposed to do. Granted, this is a very extreme and uncommon example, but I think it was a result of the points that I just mentioned.
Stupid or High?
It's not just fast food joints. Much of white, middle class suburban America has this level of deferential attitude towards perceived authority figures. I can see high class restaurants in more upscale areas with employees who would have acted similarly. I think Dr. Grande and many others are a bit naive in believing this is just "stupidity" when in truth, it's more of a societal thing.
This is mind blowing and terrible. I can’t imagine thinking that this was legitimate. If they hadn’t gotten the clue by the time the poor girl was doing naked jumping jacks, you’d think they would have gotten the clue then!
Lmao I don’t mean to laugh but how could you go that far without thinking something was wrong. Guy on the phone must’ve been pissing himself with laughter.
Have you seen the movie?
My guess was Nix (Summers' fiancé) was reveling in it and that the person on the phone made it sound legitimate - like a way to expel hidden items from orifices. Although how the caller forced her to perform oral sex on Nix is beyond me. Dr. Grande has spared us some of the more disturbing details that I found on the Wikipedia page.
@@saxglend9439 what is it called?
@@wandacole5784 Compliance (2012)
It really angers me that Donna Summers won a lawsuit against McDonalds. In my opinion she should have gone to prison alongside her pervert fiancé.
Agreed
100%
you dont go to jail for being dumb ... lawsuit i agree.
I don't understand why McDonald's was found culpable at all.
@@jack-a-lopium Oh, calm down. Summers was absolutely not a victim. Just a dumb b itch who had an amazing lawyer.
Why did no one say, "Officer, how is it that you don't have time to come over here, yet you can keep us on the phone for three and a half hours?"
Good comment. Good cat picture.
@@bluecollarlit thank you!
@@catnewskawai9367 you're welcome. Have a nice day.
Cases like this is why I think crimes involving the impersonation of police need to be punished harshly. There are a lot of people out there who will submit to unconditional compliance if they believe they’re being ordered by police.
A lot of those people know that noncompliance can get you shot. Seriously. "Noncompliance" is often considered a valid reason for lethal force.
YES! Also it's a common tactic of rapists and serial killers. Mr. Stuart is now free to escalate his assaults. I think this is far more concerning than if some people did or didn't comply. Stuart is a dangerous person and they gave him a wink and a nod but prosecuted those he duped.
As far as I'm concerned the one's who let him go are accomplices to his future acts of depravity and I'd love to see them prosecuted along with him when they find his torture basement with 38 dead women in it in 20 years. Mark my words.
Yes, for one thing, they're legitimately afraid of being murdered by police if they don't comply with whatever.
@mirzamay Thank you!! I've gone through so many comment sections on videos about this case and 98% of people focus on the "stupidity, gullibility and naivety" of the people involved and I get so angry because I'm like HELLO shouldn't we be focusing on the fact that a dangerous sexual predator did not go to prison for this??? Nix got prison, should have gotten longer but that's a whole nother conversation...and Donna got a freaking payout instead of punishment...but the scariest thing is a dangerous sexual predator is amongst us with freedom to do whatever the eff he wants THAT is what most people are not focusing on! 🤬🤨
@@Silkendrum what a bull crap. Take me to Jail. You don't have to fight...be smart Einstein
If Dr. Grande hadn't told this story, I'd have thought that someone was telling a tall tale!🤥
Nope, not fiction. I live just south of Mt. Washington and well remember the incident. Big news on the Louisville TV stations. Broadcasts included pics from the McDonald's office camera footage of the poor girl doing jumping jacks (nude), on her knees, etc. Selected body parts were blurry... but not faces. I'd guess the footage was obtained from police reports. Maybe through that journalists freedom of information jazz.
Omg, sick people in this world! Sad that Donna didn't hesitate to think this is not real and genuine! That poor girl had to endure such humiliation during the 3 and a half hours in the office. I don't blame her for suing. Sad that someone could get enjoyment out of this type of event. Thanks for your analysis Dr. Grande!
What one person can leverage out of a few restaurant staff can, and has been, done to whole nations. Just imagine, modern enlightened nations of mostly nice people can be brought to commit horrific acts of genocide. No one can do a genocide by themselves. It takes the cooperation of a sufficient number of compliant obedient people who have "respect for authority". What happened in the Baukans and in Nazi Germany can easily happen in the great US of A, land of the "free". Still, leaders, educators, industry, media and the military industrial complex prefer compliant obedient masses to an informed citizenry.
@@coweatsman actually what you describe is happening right now with vaccine compliance, mask compliance, show your papers compliance. It's only the beginning.
Your thought that obedience to authority should have limits is profound. Thanks, Dr Grande.
So the only two decent intelligent people were the cook and the janitor. Respect for those two men.
Wow this is scary. I too am a rule follower and desperately hope I would not have fallen for this. I think the clothes off would have been my 'no' point.
Exactly!
Me too
Why do I feel angry at people like you? That fact that you're not sure if you would have gone along with this is, terrifying.
@PegLeg idk why the anger, but the unsure-ness is taking into account that absolutely normal people did. Of course, sitting in my home, I think they're crazy and I would never do that. But they thought the same and somehow did.
I am an immigrant and the first thing I learnt right away is that federal agencies and cops DO NOT call you over the phone. They either send you a mail or see you in person (the latter one being mostly probably trouble Bells).
I am absolutely shocked by this horrible horrible case!!! Just terrible
It’s one of the first things my mom taught me when I became an adult. If the bank, the government, or the police call you…. It’s not actually them, it’s a scam and you have to hang up.
@@caissafrass6631 sounds like you're really equipped for the wide world with that advice
So you got into trouble?
@@spencerfrankclayton4348 no. It’s critical information we immigrants need to know in a new country.
My bank called me when they noticed unusual activity on my account. The police called about my mom who had dementia. I've gotten scam phishing calls from "Medicare" and "Social Security". They were good - knew my SS number, address. Yikes.
It’s unsettling how most people will let someone they perceive to be in authority dictate their actions. It’s almost like people will do anything as long as they are told there is a reason for the action and someone else is willing to take responsibility for it. It’s kind of horrific actually. Thanks for this analysis Dr Grande, it’s excellent as usual and really food for thought.
you’re right, but it’s not really fair to blame people for having that mindset when compliance and obedience to authority are drilled into us from the day we’re born. not to mention all the horrific things police are allowed to do to us if we “don’t comply”. it’s not stupidity, it’s how we’re conditioned
@@egg9206 seem like you’re speaking for yourself there, also anxious people seem to be more susceptible to this.
I do believe the young woman was completely a victim in this specific situation. Given her age, she would have probably been right out of high school and in school children are taught to never, ever question the adult's authority. You do what the teacher tells you or there are negative consequences. In your first couple of jobs after hs you have that same mindset toward your supervisors. No matter how embarrassed she was, no matter how wrong the situation felt, she may still have literally felt she didn't have the option to leave. Just like a student doesn't have the option to just get up and walk out of school. I remember how much courage it took for me to say no to my managers, over just little stuff, during my first couple of jobs as a teen bc that programming of obeying adults runs deep. I don't blame her at all for not leaving, she was just a scared kid, it was the adults in the situation that really should have known better, done better, and protected her.
Thank you for this comment! This is exactly what I was thinking! She might not have had the common sense of an experienced adult, but definitely had the common sense of a kid fresh out of high school. Any blame on her is inappropriate.
Thank you so much for this comment. I can not tell you how much I agree with you. I just couldn't put it into words. You said it perfectly everything I was deeply feeling.
I agree with you that young people are trained not to say no to authority, I find myself at nearly 50 still falling into this category most of the time, but I am 100% sure I would not at any age undress for a boss. I would quit my job first.
As someone who has relatives living in small southern towns, l understand completely how an 18 yo girl might believe she had to comply with the manager. Children in some of these cultures are not only taught they must obey authority but also that this authority was placed over them by God. To disobey or even question authority is a sin against God. There has been some movement away from this teaching among younger people, because so many children are being harmed by it.
SO true. I was indoctrinated into this way of NEVER questioning or disobeying authority and got absolutely trampled on by the manipulative people who worked at both my post h.s. jobs. It's such a bubble. And you can't see outside of it until you spend time undoing the toxic 'Yes ma'am' response that is so ingrained by the school system. My parents were highly authoritarian and asked me to leave the house when I rebelled, so I was going about these new jobs living in my car and friends' places. Spending my time outside of work surviving and escaping the unpleasantness of that survival, Not reflecting on what
I really wanted out of life or how it was ethical to be treated. You could say I was the ultimate capitalist simp
“A common sense black hole “, I laughed out loud! I know this is serious, but it’s so laughable too. No one questioned anything . Amazing analysis Doc, with a straight face!
"We are looking for a white woman with blondish, brownish, darkish hair and blue, green, or possibly brown or hazel eyes." After 70+ incidents, how does corporate not send out a memo warning of this?
THEY... DON'T... CARE!
Sometimes people don't report this to management
Because it was numerous _different_ corporations, and the calls were received in numerous different states, and at a time when things, including news media reporting, were not as well connected between states, so the repeating pattern was much less obvious than it would have been today.
"have your boyfriend who doesn't even work at McDonald's come in and r*pe a young girl" seems legit that's what cops always ask you to do. God that woman is despicable
According to another site it’s confirmed that corporate warned about this 2 weeks before the incident.
There’s a disturbing movie based on this called Compliance. It’s crazy to me what blind loyalty can accomplish.
Just turn to religion and you'll be gobsmacked
@@TheDramacist Religion and McDonalds ;)
I read about this in the newspaper. A few years later, I saw that a movie called Compliance, but there was no description of the movie, but I had a feeling it was about this case. It's by Alex Gibney of Magnolia films. They also did an excellent documentary on the Enron scandal called the smartest guys in the room.
I saw that film, I was working my brains to try and remember the name of it, scary stuff!
The problem wasn't loyalty. If anything it was its absence.
I believe the only reason the caller got them to do anything is because he gave them something they wanted in return. The lie was on shaky grounds but pair that with a chance to be a “hero” (Donna) or to be a pervert (her husband) then they have more than one reason to wanna believe. I think it’s even more interesting how other people absolutely refused to participate but they still did not call the police. Sounds like the bystander effect paired with fear of authority,
I agree. Although I can empathize with unwilling to be involved, concerned about retaining employment - living literally hand-to-mouth and relying on benefits such as health insurance for a chronically ill child or pregnant wife. Or simply this is the best and most convenient employment possible.
How much did the other employees know what was going on in that office? Did the cook and janitor alert them what had been asked of them that they refused?
I can see additional outside lines only in the office to control employees making personal calls and use of mobile phones prohibited while on the clock as stumbling blocks. Possibly welcome unfortunately.
I cannot get past the situation was not hearing the cries of a fellow employee being beaten into submission - screams for help.
This situation is indeed a teaching point IMO re: The lines of responsibility, recognition of right and wrong, respect for authority and willingness to comply are blurred. And absolutely yes, a parents responsibility to teach.
The husband was definitely a pervert
Kentucky Logic.
Nicole,
Very good analysis of a really weird event.
This is exactly what I figured. Also, the manager could’ve already Thought lowly of Louise.
This story makes me think about the “banality of evil” thesis proposed by Hannah Arendt. In that she states that Eichmann, a Nazi operative, was an ordinary man who acted without any motive other than his career advancement. She says that due to his obedience and thoughtlessness he performed evil deeds without evil intentions. Although her book received much criticism, it certainly makes us reflect if one “can do evil without being evil.”
Fantastic analysis and perfect conclusion, thank you Dr. Grande.❤️
I think it's a product of modern society. If we were in a small tribe, we'd see exactly how our deeds and works directly affect those around us. But in modern society we work in cubicles, staring at screens all day - so we don't directly witness the impact our work is having on real human beings. We live in bubbles which gives those of us who lack sympathy or compassion to do horrible things thoughtlessly.
@@curbozerboomer1773 I agree. Totalitarian leaderships, for instance, will always have a “greater good” banner.
Such thoughtlessness IS evil to me. You have to really try to be that thoughtless. Even super mentally disabled or ill people are able to at least think of other people. At a certain point it has to be willful ignorance and “I didn’t know” becomes meaningless
Summers not only serves no jail time but actually walks away with a lifetime salary at McDonald's for her trouble. Truly justice was served here. Unbelievable!
This interestingly also explains a lot about modern financial scams, for example bank calls to (especially) elderly people. They obey to what is told because they don't fully understand the situation. Verifying on own behalf (manually calling the 'source' of the claimed authority) is really important advice.
"The restaurant was like a common-sense black hole from which bad decision-making, nonsensical thought, and poor critical thinking skills could never escape."
Probably the most accurate description of McDonalds ever made.
I mean have you ever seen them fix an ice cream machine before? I haven't
@@brad7566 There is a video about McDonald's ice cream machines on You tube. Give it a watch and you'll see why they never get fixed.
My elderly mother got scam phone calls on the regular. She was smart and onto them though. A lot of folks haven’t been so lucky and fall victim to these predators. It’s disgusting.
Don't think you have to be smart just not an absolute idiot. If you fall for it you deserve it as far as I'm concerned
yeah this happens in my country too often, someone calls the elderly person and tells them a relative usually a grandchild in trouble and needs money, a lot of times they fall for the scam, people such man, scamming the elderly
@@andreakoroknai1071 That’s horrible! The scammers playing on an elderly person’s biggest fear - a grandchild is in some kind of danger. They should be punished to the fullest extent of the law for theft, extortion, … whatever 🤬
@@SueP-D yeah, absolutely, they do tend to get caught because you can often hear it on the news that the so-called grandchild scammers have been arrested, they're probably not the smartest criminals, but by then the damage is done
My parents are like that. I had to tell them there is no such thing as a get rich quick by sending your money to whoever. You would think it’s a given.
This leaves me feeling very conflicted, on one hand, I feel really bad for the young girl who was victimized, but then again, i feel like if my boss told me to take off all my clothes, it wouldn't be hard to say no.
“Can gullibility be so pronounced that a person is a danger to society?”
My favorite quote, too! Thanks!!
*gestures to ivermectin*
@@esteemedmortal5917 gestures to you.
Jan. 6, 2021
Yes. Yes they can.
This reminds me of the Stanford Prison experiment. All participants in this case seemed to take advantage of the power and authority "given" to them by the fake cop.
No that experiment was manipulated. The scientist leading it chose guards that were the most aggressive and continually interferred to steer the experiment in the direction he wanted. The short story was he got the conclusion he was looking for by pushing for it, same with the Milgram experiment and with the Robber's Cave experiment.
@@nektulosnewbie Milgram is controversial, but most researchers accept the result as legitimately informative. I don't know about the other two.
@@l.w.paradis2108 Milgram cherry picked and altered the experiments as he performed them on a small test group. The majority of people actually disobeyed, but he manipulated things to his own ends. He wasn't performing an experiment, he want to prove why the Holocaust happened which he lost family in. He was prejudiced as a result.
Had he done that today he'd fit perfecrly for the creteria of the Replication Crisis plaguing psychology these days.
I can't link anything or go further into it thanks to CZcams, but at least search out a discover magazine article about it from 2013.
@@nektulosnewbie I will! All of this research interests me.
The Stanford Prison Experiment has been debunked but it remains a fact in urban legend. The last research I read on Milgrim was that he was going to compare American obedience to German obedience. He believed there would be a big difference. He didn’t expect so many Americans to comply, and didn’t continue his experiment in Germany.
I love your mix of dry humor and education Dr. Grande. There was definitely a “common sense black hole” in that restaurant. Very interesting look at the power dynamics.
The Milgram experiment is fascinating and horrifying. We dove right into it in my methods of behavioral research class and it came up briefly in psych 101. I didn't know about this case but I'm glad for the reminder to challenge authority. It's fine to respect teachers/managers/those in positions of power but they can abuse it too. Thanks for the video Dr. Grande! ❤️
It’s hard to believe that these people would be so stupid to do those things that a stranger told them on the phone
Not weird for America.. 🤷
these are the exact kind of people who are constantly saying don't listen to so-called "authorities", just think for yourself.
That's why fast food restaurants were targeted; it's a safe bet that not many employees have a PHD.
Scale it up to the macro level you get a holocaust. Just think what ordinary people around you and on the street, generally nice good people, will be prepared to do to you if that is what some person in authority asks you them to do. Never mind those with anti social disorder. Worry about the "well adjusted" and the "properly socialised".
@@coweatsman look at the control governments have recently exercised on its people, i. e. mask-wearing, people having rushed-up injections put into their body that have no clue what is in those injections, show your papers in order to have the privilege of going to certain places. If anyone thinks that government control cannot happen here, think again. And it's just beginning.
I'm a police officer and we call up assistant managers at McDonald's all the time. We like them to conduct surveillance and, of course, the occasional cavity search.
Perhaps your department needs to focus on hiring “officers” who can at the very least spell.
@@Ad-Lo Yes, after each arrest we need to perform a spell check.
lmfao!!
@@kemeee5407 :) Thank you.
@@Ad-Lo believe it or not, literacy is an important instruction at the academy.
Writing is a huge part of the job. They are supposed write down everything that happens, immediately after. If you dont know, any person conducting business can keep daily records and so long as they are consistently updated (and immediately, not recalling past weeks) they are admissible as testimony.
Great video suggestion on this one! I had never heard of it, and the questions it leaves you with are disturbing. We are taught our entire school careers to unwaveringly trust authority and do what it says.
Not everybody is brought up that way.
Can't believe that people think this. Do you really think that kids in schools these days "unwaveringly trust authority and do what it says"? Have you been to a school lately? And when I was in school decades ago we defied authority all the time. It's what kids do.
@@natekeyes2297 IKR? I don't know anybody who thinks that.
@@natekeyes2297 how naive. Even if you go against it, you're still made to feel like a criminal and rule breaker by the authorities over you in school. Which attaches guilt etc for being a free spirit. You're looking arty it all in one very over simplified context
@@JustDr.S right? And definitely not something to be on the attack about,when it comes to differing opinions. Not talking about religion or abortion or something lol
"Like when someone says they're an officer thinking stops, all moral obligation is terminated" is exactly how real police expect people to behave.
People's stupidity, and callousness, never ceases to amaze & horrify me🤨😬Maybe this was a team effort? Thanks Dr G for another good analysis of a bizarre case 😊💚💚
What do you mean by team effort
After the q thing and flat earthers, nothing shocks me anymore. You could say I've grown a callous around my heart.
@@yasuke9317 Those guys are just gullible dorks. Dr G's cases are generally more serious, sad, revolving around murder etc. It always makes me sad hearing how bad humans can be.
@@zenawarrior7442 Ikr? They didn't even verify if the phone call was from the actual police. You get someone claiming to be a cop and they tell you to instruct the person to TAKE OFF THEIR CLOTHES? and YOU believe that? Something very wrong with those people. I'd have just hung up. Let the cops come and do their job, if it's real, they'll show up. SMH.
@@JustDr.S Yes I agree...my point was so many incidences...took more than 1 person to pull off, prob alot more involved. Very sad they followed wo questioning😑btw what does SMH mean? I ask people but know one ever tells me lol😊😎
I remember seeing the film this story was based on called “Compliance.” I refused to believe it was a true story, and as soon as he told her to take off her clothes and do jumping jacks, I couldn’t take it anymore and turned it off. I thought it was absurd and obnoxious. I still can’t believe this actually happened.
I suspect Dr Todd is an ace poker player.
I remember this story. I believe 'Law and Order: SVU' had an episode, starring Robin Williams, that was loosely based on this this.
I would totally watch that episode
Yes! (Season 9, episode 17) His comedy is amazing, but man, his dark characters are eerie.
@@jsmalls9575 I'm checking out this episode!
Yeah that's one of my favorite episodes!
I need to watch episode
Seeing the title of the video I never Imagined that a phone scam would leak to someone stripped and violated.... The American education system sure produces a lot of wonderful people...😊
"Wanna control my mind? Alright, I'm not using it anyway"
I've given up trying to understand people who fall for scams.
Would you say you're simply immune to all scams?
@@eadweard. I don't think anybody is. There's got to be some kind of scam under the right conditions that would fool them, you, or me
I think the victim knew something was wrong but when you’re trapped in a room with no clothing and difficulty escaping, you kind of just push that aside and focus on getting through the ordeal without getting hurt.
@@eadweard. Yup. Four years with a malignant narcissist will render you immune and DEEPLY suspicious of everyone.
@Over It wow, how do you know my entire life?...you don't buddy. A malignant narcissist is a specific type of mental condition that you apparently aren't aware of. You can research it, or just give another snarky comment.
Speechless.
Thanks Dr. G. Im just sitting here shaking my head.
Someone stood at a payphone for 3 and a half hours for a prank call? 🤯
The real winners in this were the payphone owners raking it in.
Well, since I’ve always been a bit of a rebel with a healthy skepticism of authority this story kind of amazed me. .. This case is bizarre but I see it as the drawback of raising young people to not question authority figures, especially law enforcement, and the failure to teach critical thinking skills in our schools.
Best comment, here. I was brought up the same way, to have a bit of skepticism/doubt. Not to trust blindly. Also, some of it is just common sense. You just KNOW not to instruct someone to take off their clothes in work because the 'phone cop' said so. SMH.
You are exactly right. Ironically, I was raised in a household where standing up for yourself and challenging authority were basically cardinal sins and that's precisely why I question everything. People with good intentions don't make you debase yourself and ask you to ignore reality in favor of their delusions. It's so heartbreaking that so many people never learn to think critically and defend themselves.
“Think for yourself, question authority.” -Timothy Leary
What a story! It took a guy on his day off to put a stop to the whole sordid endeavor!
That'll show you that we think better on our days off
You have the most incredible work ethic and a calming presence! I often watch your videos at night to fall asleep and then re-watch them the next day to see what they were about 🙂 Thank you for being online! This case is very disturbing BTW.
I credit my mother with instilling in me an unhealthy mistrust of authority and people in general. I would have hung up in a couple of words. Waited for a call back, got rude and profane hung up again. Then play pick up/hang up until they went away. No minimum wage job is worth even minor inconvenience let alone anything else.
Same. I would have hung up immediately.
@@curbozerboomer1773 it should though.
Dr Grande should be the manager, and bring down every scammer.
Dr Grande, did you ever see a really brilliant episode of Law and Order SVU with the late, great Robin Williams guest starring in it? It absolutely had to be based on this story. Williams brilliantly played the part of the prank caller starting with the girl in the fast food restaurant and while it wasn't long before Benson and Stabler had him on their radar he had alibis placing him in various specific places such as fishing at a fishing lodge where he had pie at a cafe and booked into a hotel etc. When they rang these places the people answering the phone confirmed his prescence there at the dates and times he provided. Turned out he had four or five different phones allocated to each of these alibis and as only Williams could, he was able to produce a totally different voice for each character on the end of the phone. Also, in reference to the experiment you talked about with the electric shocks, Williams also employed this technique at the end after he had kidnapped Benson and was fooling Stabler into thinking that her ever increasing screams he was hearing came about because Williams was amping up electric shocks he was giving to her but it was all just recorded screams and she was unharmed. In the end he made a brilliant get away following an explosion he had set up and when the detectives gave chase he was nowhere to be found. If you haven't seen it Doc, you should look it up. Great episode and great video from you. Thank you so much.
It wasn't just the people who worked in the restaurant that were gullible, it was the damn jury who let this guy go...WOW !
I haven’t finished the video yet so i don’t know if Dr Grande references it; but there’s a movie about this specific incident called “Compliance”. It’s difficult to watch; you can’t believe the stupidity of the manager and your heart breaks for the young woman who was victimized.
The McDonald's custodian had integrity and courage. His manager told him he was on the phone with a senior corporate manager and a police detective, but he was no fool and immediately refused to cooperate with the impersonator.
I work for a bank that takes potential threats very seriously and I would love to see what would happen if someone tried this crap.
Commenters are saying they made an actual movie out of this, and I'm not an expert, but it really sounds like the plot of a porno.
The movie is called "Compliance" and regarding the plot, some scenes are...quite naughty (and hot tbh.)
I'm not an expert either! Honest
I was a victim of this back in 2002. I fell for it just like 69 other employees that David Richard Stewart called. You never know what you can fall for given the circumstances.. The affects are lifelong. 20 years later and can still remember it like it was yesterday.
What do you mean?
Me too. Back in 1999.
This is a horrific story. How could Summers have believed the caller? What a nightmare for that poor girl. Dr Grande, the only good thing here is your beautiful pink shirt 🇬🇧
How have I never heard of this case?? Unbelievable... I can almost understand "searching for stolen items" (ALMOST), but how the Hell can that idiot fiancee rationalize *spanking her repeatedly??* He deserved all the prison time that he served.
Much, much worse than that was done to her. Google the horrific story
He didn't rationalize....he took advantage of the situation. He knew it was wrong, he called a friend immediately and said he did something wrong...and he did much more than spank her. He's a disgusting perv who needs to be locked up forever and Donna too...if you can stomach it, watch the security footage. I've seen it many times and it has ne shook every single time! 😭😭😭😭
He was just taking advantage. Like he was a pervert so he was happy to do whatever the "cop" told him to. Like he probably knew it was a scam, even.
There is now a Netflix 3-part series on this topic, "Don't Pick Up the Phone". This mess crosses a line of being "gullible" (easily persuaded to believe something) versus "stupid" (having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense). It is terrifying to know there are people who are this damn stupid.
Just started watching the Netflix docuseries. This made me incredibly upset and disgusted. My heart breaks for that young lady.
(Edit) Oh my! There were more!!! What’s wrong with people?! This would never happen if they had Integrity and some darn common sense.
"oh, you want to control my mind? Go ahead, I don't use it anyway" - brilliant! 🤣🤣🤣
“Oh you want to control my mind? Go ahead. I don’t use it anyway.” 😂😂😂
Working in substance use treatment program where information is protected at a greater degree than HIPAA (by 42 CFR Part 2), i have become pretty obstinate to most authority roles including police, probation, parole and judges.
As a general society, we have been programmed to comply, and while the caller was fake, I have never seen grown men throw the kind of temper tantrums I have had to deal with when I tell one of these anointed by employment children “no” then remain unchanged by their threats.
Great comment. 👍
Very nice pink shirt, Dr Grande! Looks good on you. It's my favorite of your rainbow 🌈 of shirts.
I work at a gas station food place. We are constantly being told by corporate to stop giving gift card numbers over the phone because stores around the country are giving away hundreds over the phone every year. It's incredible how easy it is.
How many people thought he was going to talk about the singer, Donna Summer?
Me! I was like, whoa, this is gonna be wild! 😂
I wish! :)
That would have been better!
Chemo number 2 right now…perfect timing!! 🙏👍😁
Oh wow good luck and good health to you!
Oh, may God bless you! Prayers going up for you now 🙏🙌❤💙🤍
@@2manybooks2littletime25 thanks 🙏 so much ❤️
@@SueP-D thank you Sue!! 🙏❤️
Thinking of you, Lindsay!!
This was my local McDonalds when this incident occurred, I lived about 2 minutes down the street. That manager was a notorious…witch. She was always nasty, rude, demanding, and not once did I see her treat her employees nicely when I was there. She didn’t seem stupid though, at least not this stupid. I think her delusions of grandeur by being given some small amount of authority at those she considered inferior to her made her completely lose all common sense. I think, personally, her and her man probably got some sort of satisfaction out of this for some weird authoritative reasons. They’re both terrible. There’s no way you just keep doing this and following these directions if you’re a well adjusted normal person who isn’t getting a kick out of it.
Doubtful
Wow. I wondered how much the manager's personality and previous behavior was relevant understanding how it could go so far out of control. I think it would explain a lot of others actions.
Well, this explains a lot. Thanks.
@@theredrover3217 yeah every time I was in there she was so loud and obnoxious to her employees that it was impossible not to notice. Like she was one of those people that acted like running a McDonalds in BF nowhere was a super important job, and I remember thinking a few times that I would hate working there because you just knew she was someone that would expect you to drop your entire life on a day off to come in and work the drive thru.
Common sense isn't common much anymore.. except the folks watching this vid.. you folks are brilliant! I always enjoy these broadcasts, thank you.
You should have mentioned the name of the Stanley Milgram, who performed the 1962 obedience study. This is a classic investigation and has been replicated and extended many times, with various populations, all over the world. Very solid finding...
The Third Wave Exp. 1967. The Stanford Prison Exp. 1971.
I was raised by a state trooper and taught to respect the police but at the same time my sister and I knew better than to talk to police without my father present. My children have also been taught to never talk to authorities without myself or my dad. Never.
It’s sad that people till fall for scammers.
Great video Dr Grande!!!
This is a terrifying case. However, I think that a lot of what you were talking about in this video applies a lot to the phenomena we're seeing right now in relation to the pandemic. It's very scary to see how obedience can dominate "common sense," and how little some people appear to think critically about their own behaviors and the behaviors of their superiors. Lots of food for thought. Thanks, Dr. G!
"Can gullibility be so pronounced that a person is a danger to society?" That's a good quote! We sure have seen a lot of that in the last few years - the answer is YES! All we have to do is look at all the people who won't get vaccinated because of illogical misinformation on Facebook, and the subsequent harm brought to our society.
Thank you for your frequent uploads!!!
The police “don’t have time” to investigate yet they have time to sit on the phone for hours?!? 🤦♀️ That alone should have been a clue to the manager. Also, yeah, let’s bring your Not An Employee Fiance in to monitor the “suspect”. Sheesh.
I strangely feel a second hand bystander effect from this and I feel bad about it, tbh. My 18 year-old self would have not called the police if my boss was on the phone with an alleged officer and stripped down a coworker because I would have feared getting into trouble with my boss even if I knew they were being scammed. I would just want to end my shift end leave this behind me. I hope these days I would know better. It is such a strange situation and everyone in the comments acts like they would have known best, but I am sure in reality many would also not have stood up. When these cases actually happen, they defy all reality and reason.
I was brought up to be wary of people in authority, not to blindly obey something that didn't seem right. At 5 years old, I knew nobody should ever ask you to take off your clothes. I'm so glad I was taught these things. It saved me from some possibly dangerous situations.
@@jwhite-1471 I agree with 99.9% of what you said. But, no, women are not taught that. I was taught to fight like hell and not do anything I knew was 'off', or something my parents wouldn't tell me to do. Most girls/women were taught the same, even as children.But, some may react the way you stated. Not the majority, though. Maybe it has to do with where you grew up, or in what decade.
That was some Hollywood-level police work for them being able to track down this guy.
This makes me sick... Poor girl...
Hard to believe people can be that gullible and hard to understand how Summers won any kind of award.
I'd say Joe Biden's election proves this level of dangerous gullibility is quite widespread.
Gullible? Yes, but I think just plain "stupid" is the best word to describe them.
Also, even if the authority figure is legitimate, your boss, military superior etc; nobody ever has to follow any UNLAWFUL or illegal order.
What a story! Unreal.
Pink looks good on you.
BEST WAY TO START MY DAY!!! THANK YOU DOC!! ❤️
nice topic and nice plant placement, my heart beats up everytime I see all this effort to make the best analysis ever 💓 :)
"Oh U wanna use my mind? Go ahead I don't use it anyways" 😂😂😂 savage
That is a really peculiar case. Great message at the end on the important lesson learned for this case. Also, even if the authority figure is legimate, one must assess if the so called order is legal.
Police would never call you, they'd just show up.
Thanks for doing another video of one of my requested suggestions Dr. Grande you really nailed it in typical Grandeiose fashion.
Such a disgusting case all around....that poor girl! I'm so glad I was raised to respect others, but to always think for myself and to follow my own moral compass.
Great episode, Dr. Grande! Your mastery of thought and speech, not to mention your wit, are very impressive!
I have never heard this case. I'm so glad to hear it from you.
A movie was made about it.
Like the Joker said, as long as there is a “plan”, people will go along with just about anything.
Which film is it in?
I might could see going along with "hey, so and so, come into the office... they want me to search you"
but soon as that makes them naked? I am checking credentials and questioning why I am performing the search in the first place lol
So-o-o SAD...!!!...I remember learning about that study in psychology class in college...Thank you for explaining related theories...👍🏼
“It would seem that few people in that restaurant had common sense. It was like a common sense black hole.” This guy cracks me up 🤣…
I'll never order from a fast-food restaurant again. If these workers are so stupid they don't know it's not ok to sexually assault an employee if a voice on the phone tells them to, how on earth can we expect them to learn and practice food safety rules? Yuck!
Great analysis, but I do think Dr. Grande underestimates just how deferential otherwise well meaning people can be towards authority figures. Back in college I did security work and was shocked at how many people offered me far more authority than I actually had. Frequently, I had to tell people I was *not* a police officer, because they clearly thought I was simply due to my uniform and badge - even though both indicated I was private security, not a police officer.
I can easily see a good portion of the American public being duped into performing strip searches or worse under the belief that they are being ordered to do so by police officers or some other authority figure. My family is originally from Mount Washington, so I'm familiar with the town. It's very much middle class to decently well off suburbia. I would expect an 18 year old girl to likewise allow herself to be subjected to clearly illegal things if she was led to believe it was an order from law enforcement. Considering she knew she didn't steal anything, she probably felt certain it was better to get searched than be arrested.
Also, I'd add that I suspect there is something of a racial component here. I have a much harder time seeing someone pulling off a scam like this in say an African-American establishment, with individuals far less likely to give the benefit of the doubt to supposed law enforcement given their past experience with authorities tends to be far more negative than what you saw in a middle class, almost entirely white suburban like Mount Washington.
He doesn’t underestimate it. He’s just pointing out that it’s a bad idea.
You could be outdoors, telling them the word gullible was written on the ceiling, and they’d still have their necks craned upwards.
🤣🤣🤣
My how times have changed. My wife and I have hung up on literally _dozens_ of calls from people claiming to be from the IRS, Social Security, or "the bank", concerning some sort of fraud on our account, and the call never gets beyond the opening introduction from the caller.
I tell them a few choice words before hanging up and then block the number. I block numbers daily. It's so annoying.
@@nbrown8386 The spammers are spoofing the number they're calling from - they are _real_ numbers, belong to a _real_ person, or business, but the spanners are "borrowing" them, so you'll have to keep on blocking numbers until you have blocked almost (not all combinations exist) ten billion numbers. LOL
@@pulaski1 I'm almost there 🤣🤣🤣