The Nature of the Hoax
Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 9:16 am
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.
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.