The Nature of the Hoax

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The "strip search phone call scam," as it's often called, involved a perpetrator (later identified in some cases as David Richard Stewart, though he was acquitted of the most well-known incident) calling various businesses, primarily fast-food restaurants, and grocery stores.

Here's how the hoax typically unfolded:

Impersonation: The caller would convincingly claim to be a police officer, detective, or other law enforcement official. They would often use a fake name and badge number.
False Pretense: The caller would usually allege a serious whatsapp number list crime had occurred on the premises (e.g., theft, drug possession, or an employee being involved in a crime outside the store) and that a specific employee fit the suspect's description.
Manipulation and Coercion:

Authority Bias: Managers, often in stressful situations and unfamiliar with police protocols, were pressured into believing they were assisting a legitimate police investigation. The caller leveraged the natural human tendency to obey authority figures.
Urgency and Secrecy: The caller would emphasize the urgency of the "investigation" and insist on secrecy, forbidding the manager from involving other employees, calling the police department directly, or hanging up.