This Guy Used ChatGPT to Scam McDonald's Into Giving Him 100 Free Meals, and People Aren't Too Happy About It
A shocking tale of scamming has emerged on the popular podcast "All Things." Gage, co-host of the show, revealed how he used AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT to swindle McDonald's out of an astonishing 100 free meals over nine months in 2023. The brazen scheme, which went viral on YouTube and sparked a heated debate among viewers, has left many questioning Gage's ethics.
Gage's "unlimited free McDonald's hack" involved stealing receipts from tills or tables, accessing McDonald's feedback surveys via the unique codes on those receipts, filling out the surveys, claiming to be "highly dissatisfied," and then enlisting ChatGPT to generate fake complaints. The AI-powered chatbot was prompted to create detailed, under-1,200-character accounts of horrible experiences at McDonald's, complete with fictional stories and convincing details.
"You punch that in, fill in an email, boom. In, like, 12 hours, a representative will send you an email with one, two, or three or four meal vouchers completely for free," Gage explained to his listeners. His boasts about the scam, which was initially met with shock and amusement by fans of the show, only fueled the backlash when a clip from the episode resurfaced on YouTube in May 2024, garnering over 35,000 views and sparking numerous comments from viewers criticizing him for putting the livelihoods of minimum-wage employees at risk.
"They've plastered posters up everywhere saying, 'Please fill in the survey and put highly satisfied,'" Gage bragged. However, his words fell flat with many who pointed out that this behavior would harm workers who rely on positive reviews to keep their stores running smoothly. "It doesn't harm anyone," Gage claimed, but those defending him argue that it will ultimately harm everyone involved – the employees, the restaurant owners, and even customers like yourself.
"Someone supports their family with that job. You're putting it at risk," said @MrAlanevo in response to the scandal. "Cool, making all the employees earning minimum wage look bad to their employer for no reason at all," added @gotohellgoogle9248. Others echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the fact that each receipt is time-stamped and includes a name, which could affect an employee's overall score and bonuses.
"This guy is an absolute clown," said @bobgarder1369 in one of many scathing comments directed at Gage. "It doesn't harm anyone? It harms everyone involved. Shame on you, child," chimed in another critic. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Gage's actions have sparked a much-needed conversation about ethics and responsibility.
How Does the McDonald's ChatGPT Scam Work?
Gage laid out the steps involved in perpetrating this scheme to anyone who would listen. Here's how it works:
- Discarded McDonald's receipts, an internet connection, and a prompt are all that are needed.
- Steal receipts from tills or tables to access McDonald's feedback surveys via the unique codes on those receipts.
- Fill out the surveys and claim to be "highly dissatisfied."
- Enlist ChatGPT to generate fake complaints, using prompts like "Write about a time that I had a horrible experience at McDonald's where I ordered a Big Mac" or "Make it worse."
- Fill in an email address and wait for the response – usually within 12 hours – which will include one, two, three, or four meal vouchers completely for free.
The Internet Reacts to the Scandal
As news of Gage's scam spread, social media platforms were flooded with comments and concerns from people who feel that his actions are unacceptable. While some may view this as a minor transgression, others see it as a serious offense that puts the livelihoods of hardworking individuals at risk.
"This guy is an absolute clown," said @bobgarder1369 in response to the scandal. "It doesn't harm anyone? It harms everyone involved. Shame on you, child," chimed in another critic. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: Gage's actions have sparked a much-needed conversation about ethics and responsibility.
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