Note To Restaurant Workers: Ignore Strip-Search Phone Requests

[matcom]

<snip>

The restaurant industry is struggling to get in front of a bizarre hoax in which outlet managers across the country have been duped into strip-searching employees or customers.

Last week, a man allegedly claiming to be a police officer called a Fountain Hills, Ariz., Taco Bell and told the manager to conduct a strip search of a female he said had stolen a pocket book, and gave a general description of what she was wearing. Pulling aside a 17-year-old female customer who roughly fit the description, the boss complied. As in the other cases, no stolen property was found, though this is the first search involving a customer rather than an employee.

It might seem implausible that any manager could be compelled by an unknown caller to order someone to entirely disrobe and submit to a humiliating search for drugs or stolen money. Or that someone would succumb to such an examination. But investigators say there have been dozens of similar cases since 1999, involving Burger King, Wendy's, Applebee's and others. Similar incidents have been reported in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Indiana, Utah and Ohio. The managers and the victims of such incidents have been male and female. Investigators have begun linking the cases and say they believe the hoaxes are the work of a single person calling from North Florida public telephones using a phone card.

His likely motive, they say: Not money, but power and perversion.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB108061045899868615-IRje4Nmlah3oJ6uZIKJcaWIm4,00.html

[matcom]

1. sheesh! while you all are concerned with Condi testifying......

it is

I

who am bringing you the REAL news! x(

[VelmaD]

2. This is a sad fuckin' commentary...

on the world we now live in that someone would agree to conduct a strip-search based on a phone call. Jeebus fucking christ on a popsicle stick.

[libertad]

6. I think it's sadder that someone would submit to a search by a

fast food manager. Think about it!

[VelmaD]

7. I have a hard time picking which is more disturbing...

that a fast food manager thinks they're some kind of authority figure...or that the person being searched percieved them as enough of an authority fogire to let them do it.

I almost understand when it was employees. They're teenagers who don't always know their rights. Although I would hope that I would have put my foot down about being strip-searched at that age. But a customerletting them do it? Sheesh.

[fob]

3. Somebody check Jeb's expense receipts for Phone Card

purchases!

[GOPisEvil]

4. Wasn't there another story on MatcomNews about a Wendy's?

Something similar!

[matcom]

5. yup

now its officially a crime spree :D

[ForrestGump]

8. There's a young lady at the local

Baskin-Robbins who I hope gets the call when I'm in there...

I just can't help it.

This is a strange country.

[jburton]

9. Wow!

After reading the responses here, let me assure you...

Tons of jobs, not just teens flipping burgers, have insane requirements for searches, etc.

Although this story, in classic Matcom style, was a little more than the norm of drudgery work.

[zbdent]

10. When I hear of this, I keep wondering if

there may have been one time that this legitimately happened, then:

A bunch of other, perverted managers thought that this would be a great way to get to see his female employees naked without fear of a sexual harassment lawsuit . . .