The big strip search hoax

I can't believe this needs to be said but apparently it does:

If you're managing a restaurant and you get a phone call from someone claiming to be police officer, ordering you to strip search an employee or customer looking for stolen property -- don't do it!

One, real police don't do that. Two, it's probably illegal and could get you arrested or sued (both have happened).

Nonetheless, this hoax has been perpetrated on restaurants in seven states since 1999, the Wall Street Journal reports. Investigators believe all the cases are the work of a single person.