Player's Comments 

Updated: Monday, October 13, 2003 05:03 AM

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 McDonald's Monoply Unofficial Game Site

 on aug 13,2001 i was at a dental office in clarksburg,wv,when a man came into the waiting room and began telling his story of recently winning 1 million $ at the local mcdonalds when he got a box of fries with the boardwalk piece on it. he looked as though he had never had a dime to his name and said he was there to get some dentures to replace some missing teeth as he was going to be filming several commercials as the big winner, one with leanne rimes. everyone in the office was convinced he was not making this up as he seemed quite sincere. now that the word is out of the mcscam,i am really curious as to whether he was a legitimate winner.were there any real 1$million winners? - Janice  No, for the last few years, all the million dollar winners were not "real".  Either the guy was lying, or he was one of the alleged perpetrators of the fraud and will be getting his next dental visit in jail. My guess is that he was lying and enjoying the attention. There were no Boardwalk pieces distributed. It is alleged that those pieces were kept and handed out to those in on the fraud.  I would think the folks involved in the fraud would just take the money and keep quiet, not wanting to draw any attention to themselves. cheril

What McDonalds did was beyond disgust. First of all, McDonalds knew of the illegality that was occurring by the company which was overseeing the games. They knew this when the FBI asked them to set up the games again so that the FBI could catch the cheaters. By McDonalds allowing the games to go on again, despite knowing that no one would win, was a violation of the public's trust (a public which has openly supported McDonalds for decades).

To make matters worse, McDonalds wants to get a "second chance" and has again defrauded the american public in the process. The instant game that McDonalds ran from august 30 to sept 3 was nothing more than a scam to get the public into the restaurants so that we could all spend many more millions than the few million that they would give away during the contest.

McDonalds is truly disgusting and I will never again go into their restaurants. - Disgusted with McDonalds

Monopoly stung again. What a surprise-not. Local Texas consumers are almost 100% sure that these games are rigged-internally to McDonald's or their outside agencies.

As an exercise in curiosity, I did an informal survey of our two area  McDonalds. This was done over 4 lunch and dinner visits to each restaurant in a two week period. No one I spoke with believed any real customer wins anything except the food prizes. In fact, most came right out with comments like "...you know they (McDonalds) give those million dollar prizes out to people who are paid to pretend they won them legally in the game...", and "...they don't actually award the big prizes to real people..." When I insisted that there are actually agencies that get paid to run contests fairly, most customers just laughed and made comments about when I must have been born or what kind of truck I fell off.

The consumers I spoke with generally felt that McDonald's has become a huge conglomerate that only lies to the public about things like the quality and nutritional  value of their food, the value of their "value meals" and other restaurant type things, so why would they bother to run a fair contest? Go figure. Maybe I did fall off of a turnip truck recently, I was sure these contests were on the up and up...... - Matt S.

Cheril, I have to write again because I cannot believe how many people are ready to burn Mc Donalds at the stake claiming that their children are crying and they should get their money back. Since for the most part only the very top end prizes were removed, there were still pleanty of minor prizes to keep children happy. Would your ten year olds rather have a dodge viper or a gameboy? And what would your six year old do with a million dollers? You didn't lose all chance of winning a prize, you just didn't have a chance for a million, and <gasp> what is Mc Donalds doing? They're offering a million dollars a day for 5 days with NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Now, unless you dropped a TON of money each year in hopes of winning then your odds of winning in this new contest are probably a lot better. <deep breath> Now that I've said my peace I do find it disturbing how many people have been to Mc Donalds and the people there don't know of this new promotion. I plan on going today to see how my local store is doing. - Cory

I don't believe what I'm reading here. Do all you people who made a special point of eating at McDonald's realize the odds of winning? Why would you even bother? Don't you realize that McDonald's plays these types of games because the odds of a winner coming forward are astronomical? The person who gets the winning piece probably could care less about the game and would throw it out with the empty bag. McDonald's counts on that. Please people - any promotion you see where you have to collect anything to win, don't even waste your time. I mean, if you just happened to be going to McDonald's anyway, sure, check which piece you got, but for God's sake don't think to yourself that if you buy more or work hard at it you will win.

Instant win games are probably okay, but when's the last time you saw an instant win game with great prizes? Not too often, because then the odds are that they will have several winners (which they really don't want). Games like these are just a different form of advertising; they are all marketing, few prizes. I see 'legit' companies doing this b.s. all the time now; scratch cards where you have to scratch 3 matching symbols out of 9 to win a prize, etc. Please. If you don't want to give prizes, don't waste my time advertising the stupid thing to me. The worst thing about it is when companies run these promotions their sales go up, which keeps marketers thinking up these scams.

Mr. Reality

Ironically it was this promotion that I made a real effort to play. I ate there daily, upsizing my meal and adding a McFlurry. I could have easily filled 2 game boards with the pieces that I collected. And to think I cringed every time I saw someone throw away an unopened game piece thinking that could have been the million dollar winner (that McDonalds get to keep). I believe that when a company runs a 'game' like this, they should be required to award all prizes (provide a second chance drawing). It never seemed fair that McDonalds itself could easily win the big prizes by just having a apathetic customer throw it away for them. And, for those who choose not to participate in 'the game', there should be a list of winning pieces available for viewing at each McDonalds. (Of course, though, I always check this out on the internet first).

It took 7 years for them to figure this out? I would have suspected in the 1st year when a high percentage of prizes were awarded.

Jeffrey H. 

I would rather they have more prizes rather than large ones. - Greg M.

Burger King has been treating me quite nicely, thank you........

FIRST... they give us a game which sends hundred-some fans into a mad psychotic frenzy stemming a period of 5 years... Friends of mine were even discussing making a short-film out of their daily voyages for this silly game... now the scam is revealed.. we NEVER ever really had an honest to pillman chance at winning... and to think that  THIS  is the BEST that multi-million dollar YELLOW BENT 'M' company can do to try and make peace with it's clients?!?!?!

This is pure donkey nutz... I don't even wanna HEAR how they plan to play this game...

I really don't give a F about McDonald's right now...

No game pieces on Ebay today, huh?

Lost Fanatic/Stan D.

I really can't afford to eat out very much, but in hopes of being the "Big Winner" during games like these I do eat out more specifically to try my chances at winning. It will be very hard to trust any type of game that they come out with now. I mean, McDonald's a child's' favorite place to eat has lost face in my eyes, it would be like Mr. Rogers being convicted of mass murder......very disappointing to the public. Sorry McDonald's. - Denise

My Family and Friends are very up-set about this scam done by these people. They have ruined many people's chances of winning! Most of all the excitement of playing the game with our Children has been hurt. The Belief in a company like McDonald's could have this happen to them. Well ALL the people involved should go to jail for a very long time, AND should have to give back ALL prizes and money, and hit hard. Our Children or Adults haven't anything to believe in anymore. Everything is tampered with or crooked in some way! It's another horrible message being sent out. I know McDonalds is not the Blame. We will continue to put our faith in you, and just maybe be an Honest winner someday. - Hall Family

I vaguely heard about an advertisement with McDonald's and Carnival Cruise Line.... If you buy something for $1.99 then you get a certificate for $100.00 off Carnival Cruise!  Have you heard anything? - Justin M.

No I have not heard anything like that. I didn't see anything on their website, but I will look into it. It could be a local promotion. - cheril

I noticed on your website, in the list of people who claim to have the $1 million boardwalk piece, that one goes by A Maz In.  Where can I find the post that person put up?  Someone I know in Maize Kansas, is claiming to
be a $1 million dollar winner.  With the recent FBI investigation, the FBI claims the two 'winners' are from Rhode Island and Texas.  I am just curious if the A Maz In post is part of a continued fake claim by the
person I know, that they are actually a winner.  Any insight you have, I would love to hear.  Do you know if any of this years winners were real winners, and not part of the fraud?  Also, is there a site that lists all
the previous big money winners by name?  I have pieced together some from the FBI report, but would like to look at more.

Thanks for your help,

Ecnar

From what I have read, there were NO real million dollar winners this year. They have all been arrested. :-) In fact, it may be that there hasn't been any real winners for the last 5 years (of the million dollars and some of the high level prizes) Given that all the million dollar winners were allegedly committing fraud, I am surprised that all those folks who claimed to have Boardwalk, haven't clamored for me to remove their names.  Not wanting a visit from the FBI.  LOL

Anyway, the information regarding the person you are interested in can be found in my forum here.  His claim to having Boardwalk starts at message 200 (click on 'View All')   He logs in everyday, so if you leave him a message, he will see it.

Look up addiction in the dictionary. Maybe this site should have an 800 # for a game piece addict support group. It could be called McnowayinhellAA. Good luck with your new game. - Mike

While I like what McDonalds is doing to try to salve the public's anger over this whole issue, I wish they were giving away more prizes. I would much rather they gave away at least a 1000 prizes, even if they are a smaller amount, so you have a chance to get at least something. I believe everyone ought to get a (reasonable) chance to get something back for all the extra food we ate and money we spent, rather than just another pipe dream. Especially if this year's game was a sting operation. They went ahead with this year's game anyway, even though they knew it was a fraud. That burns me almost more than anything else. I don't blame them so much for the years they didn't know about it either. - Denise

I am truly disappointed with the illegal activity by the sponsor of the McDonalds game.

We have been playing the game for years. My twelve year old son has collected games pieces from as far away as Grand Canyon Arizona. It is unfair to all of us for this to have incurred (including McDonalds)

The fair thing to do would be do the game over and award the prizes as promised.

Thanks: GStone

McDonalds is taking advantage of this situation. If McDonalds really doesn't want to look greedy they should offer a second chance piece not game piece. - Mcdon'trusthem

I am very disappointed with the way this game ended up. I went everyday to McDonalds for the sole purpose of playing that game and possibly winning. Now your telling me I have to go to McDonalds again and SPEND MORE money to try to win what we should have been able to accomplish the first time. granted not everybody played the game as intensely as I did but it's still the point we shouldn't have to redo our first efforts! I am very disappointed in McDonalds handling of this and would like a response if possible. - leggs54449

For John W. and any other people who feel the way he does, think about this: If you went out of your way to buy a bunch of SuperLottery tickets over SEVERAL YEARS and then find out the contest was rigged and you had NO CHANCE OF WINNING THE GRAND PRIZES, would you just dismiss that, or would you feel somewhat betrayed and ripped off by the game producers? Regardless of what you may think, customers DID IN FACT go out of their way to purchase higher-priced items SPECIFICALLY for a chance at the winning pieces. And that's precisely how a lottery works: look how many people are going nuts over the Powerball lottery, all hoping to get the $280 million+ jackpot. If there was no chance of winning the grand prize I don't think we'd anyone lay down their money!...... - JC

It is bad enough when you have to worry about being a victim while your eating in McDonalds these days without this crap. My 2 little girls ages 8-9 love to help us play the Monopoly Game religiously, THESE ...... OWE MY 2 LITTLE GIRLS A ..... APOLOGY, AND I WANT IT IN WRITING. My oldest daughter cried when she found out it was rigged (something most of us adults had already figured out years ago.........). My youngest one every time we go past a McDonalds now says "They are a rip-off". Personally I don't care, But greedy jack-offs got to my kids and that burns me... Gerald M.

"What a bunch of whiners! Get a life folks, and stop looking for handouts. Yes the game was rigged. Did McDonalds want this to happen? Do you honsetly think they aren't, or never were, concerned about what happened to their customers and the potential this has to hurt them? Do you honsetly think they could have known some screwball in company they hired would have be stupid enough to do this? Do you interview every empployee of every company YOU do business with. Eventually we all have to put trust somewhere, unfortunately this situation was one where none of us would want to be in. Maybe they'd be better off just not bothering with contests if this is all they can expect. They got scammed and now they get a public lynching and probably a collection of class action lawsuits from a bunch of over eaters. Its typical, they have money, something went wrong, "oh oh oh lets sue em, they can afford it"!I'd honestly be embarrasseed to be associated with anyone who feels so crushed by this that can blame McDonalds for what was done to them. They were hurt a lot more than any of you that were cramming Big Macs in your face expecting to get paid a million for your efforts. And did they know about it before the news broke? Well perhaps yes, but like any investigation, to find out whats going on, you have to work with the authorities to closure, you don't get many other options.

But hopefully all of you that were devastated by this have learned something. Go there when you are hungry. If you get a gamepiece with a meal, congratulations, this is a game! When your done eating go buy a lottery ticket."

John W. 

McDonalds should donate all of its profits from the 2001 Monopoly game to charity because it knew that its customers couldn't win that game.

As I read the newspaper, the FBI had already been tipped off and investigated. The purpose of the 2001 game was to observe their suspects and get evidence for the indictments. McDonalds knew no one was going to win the big cash prizes, but sold and marketed as though the game was fair. Maybe they had to do that for the FBI, but they shouldn't profit from this. Maybe for the other five years McDonalds was in the dark, but this year they knew it was a fraud and still went ahead. - Mike D.

The last two Monopoly games I sent in for game pieces with a self addressed envelope by the hundreds, and to find out now why I may have never won anything. I think I should at least get something for cost of all those stamps. - malibu

We as trusting, willing consumers have all been taken for a ride with this whole McDonald's mess. And yes, it IS McDonald's responsibility to police and guarantee THEIR OWN promotions' integrity.

 Painting this enormous Fortune 500 company as a victim doesn't quite cut it. Similar to the great quiz show scams of the '50's the difference here is we all purchased EXTRA ITEMS or LARGER PORTIONS specifically to get extra game pieces for ourselves and our kids. Oh, sure, the rules stated "No Purchase Necessary", but if you read how difficult they made it to receive a "free" game piece (requiring each and every request to be "hand written" on a 3" x 5" card, then a 32-cent stamp applied), after all that, who the heck would go to all that trouble?? And to quickly roll out another promotion to appease the "common folk" is insulting! 

I think an audit should take place at Hamburger University to see how much extra revenue McDonalds gained from these fraudulent promotions. It would provide a great basis for that upcoming class action lawsuit! (BTW, as a result of those quiz show scandals, all game shows on TV are required to be overseen by each network's Standards and Practices department, put in place at each network after the Van Dorn debacle. And all of those "reality" shows that are facing lawsuits for rigging fall under the category of "game show". ) 

Hey, anybody read the press release by McDonald's CEO Jack M. Greenberg? It's hilarious! He (more likely his team of Corporate Communication writers) uses the words "proud", "pleased", and "delighted" in reacting to the FBI's arrests. I have a hunch McDonald's would have been much more "delighted" if none of this was ever divulged to the unknowing public! - McFurious3D/Where'sMyMcRefund?

Apparently, this scam has been going on for the past 6 years! Does McDonalds really think that the upcoming Labor Day Promo will make up for all those years??? It's an insult to my intelligence!!! For  one (I) have a bitter taste in my mouth from McDonalds, and will not bother with any of their "rigged" promotions! .......I'm in Atlanta, and a few years ago, I went thru a bunch of .... newspapers, that had free game pieces.  I had a stack of em!  But I should of realized something was fishy when (all) I won was free food.! I probably had more game pieces than anyone could get, since I had hit a lot of news stands (The paper was a free paper.....) Now it all makes sense why there would never (have) been a big winning ticket in there. - Chris/I-DA-HO! This alleged "scam" has been going on for 5 years. Regarding the newspapers, the way it was supposed to work is as follows. All the inserts in the newspapers throughout the country included one winning piece. All were instant win food pieces, with the exception of one million dollar instant win piece. Regardless of how many newspapers you went through, the odds of finding that one non-food prize available was VERY slim. However, as we now know, that million dollar instant win piece was not inserted into the newspapers at all. 

A couple of days ago I saw the news on TV about the Monopoly scam at McDonald's. I was so glad I never asked for the super size since I don't want too much greasy fries and acidy soft drinks. It's sad how much they have changed years ago because they used to give everyone chances to play the game from any sizes of meals. I really liked that, but not this anymore. - Dave K

  In the instant game they will only be awarding the "big" prizes and that figures out to be 1 grand prize($1M) and 10 First prizes($100,000) per day for the "whole" country. I think this becomes 1 prize per area and 1 prize per state during the whole 5days of the the instant win giveaway. Pretty small odds to be in the right place at the right time during these 5 days and not even get a free ice cream cone. - grannyz

Thank you for keeping this information for so long.  I am very sorry that we
have all been duped.  Your integrity and assistance has been valuable, too
bad the rest of the world isn't as good. - Julie R. 

Can you say "McClass Action" - Mike S. 

 I am a college educated person. I knew my chances weren't great to win a prize, but I was mistaken to think that I had ANY chance to win a major prize. I sent in via the mail for pieces and received 10 food instant winners in 9 envelopes (if anyone wants a cholesterol loaded breakfast sandwich I still have 4 winners). I have EVERY "easy to get" game piece 3 railroads and 2 of every 3 color group. My eldest daughter's first sentence was "M, Mary eat fries" when she saw a McD sign. My current 2 year old constantly asks to go to McDonalds. I KNOW we won't be going nearly as frequently. I believe that even though McD employees were not found to be guilty, they had my trust and a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that their advertisements for the chance to win millions were true. I am annoyed. - Julie in Mars, PA

Can we enter the new contest with the Five Mill Dollar giveaway by enter net or on the www web? And if we can please can you give that information because I've spent all ready a lot of money in the last contest!!!  - nwin  No, check out my page about the new game.  You have to actually enter the store or use the drive- thru to win.  I don't know anything further than that. Again, however they state that "NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING." - cheril

Since 1995!!!!! I think we the people, should sue McDonalds Corporation and the money should be donated to charities.  - eg

 I just wonder how much more revenue did the Monopoly Game brought to Mc'Donald's this summer throughout the country, as compared to the "new prizes" to be announced. - Emma

 I was hoping for the chance to win which is why I played as I figured each time I ate at Mcdonalds I could get the one more piece to the game that I needed. It's a shame someone dishonestly fixed the game so that people they knew could win. Makes it look really bad for us customers who played the game legally and honestly. Shame on these crooks for spoiling the game for the rest of us. - catprotector

To say McDonalds is not responsible is like saying a city is not responsible for the conduct of the police officers it hires or a hospital is not responsible for the nurses it hires. Surely a corporation the size of McDonalds would have better screening, checks and balances in place. I just hope they screen there food vendors better.  - Greg P

No purchase necessary...McDonald's did nothing wrong...enough said - Arlene

 It seems only fitting that if McD's has a game where we can pick our prizes than they would be picking the winners - Alfman A

Hi, I’m a little disappointed that no one found out about this scheme before now, but I think that McDonalds is making a pretty good effort to make it up to the public. Now, I don’t go to McDonalds except for the games usually so I was cheated out of just as much money as everyone else, but McDonalds does do a lot of good things too. They have the Ronald McDonald house and I would wager to say they contribute to a lot of other charities too. Hopefully any company doing games like this will watch their backs and butts in the future and not let anything like this repeat. I plan on going to McD’s for each day for the new promotion, but I will not buy something every time (if I can help it). - Cory

 Thank you for the opportunity to vent my frustration.

I too have read the rules (numerous times) and find it impossible to determine how they plan to do this instant giveaway. It certainly sounds like a "pick-a-person-out-of-the-crowd" kind of thing, which seems completely unworkable to me. They certainly can't have an "official" located in every store, in every town, in the applicable areas. If they predetermine where they will be or what stores will participate in the instant prize awarding, then there are still millions of people who will never have a legitimate opportunity to win. It is also interesting that you are "entered" if you either appear in the store or in the drive-thru, but not if you are in the vestibule. Maybe there will be a bell that goes off when the lucky winners walk in the doors. I guess I could go to the drive-thru of the 7 different McD's in my area over and over again, never ordering or buying anything, in hopes of being a big winner.

As an attorney, I did read with interest the part of the rules in both contests that deal with your option if you have a grievance. I think McDonald's might find, in a case of fraud such as this, their arbitration clause won't hold up.

I will watch with interest to see how this all unfolds..


Sincerely,

Linda

I think it is ridiculous for anyone to go to McDonald's just for the sake of potentially winning the "big prize". We should all have enough common sense to eat what you would normally eat, go to McDonalds if that's where you would be going if there wasn't a contest and if you win then it is an added bonus. I cannot fathom the mindset that some of you people now have - you won't visit McDonalds for awhile or ever again because of this situation. It is not necessarily McDonald's fault and look at how many companies don't even bother to provide such contests as an added bonus for using or buying their products. 

I have no vested interest in McDonalds nor have I ever worked there so I don't really care if people go to McDonald's or not. I do think that anyone who goes to McDonald's so much that they actually fill up several game boards (except for the winners) is only a sign of stupidity. I have a bridge to sell you........ - Lori

 I have always thought the games are fraud. Its a marketing scheme. Just as the happy meal toys. its to get you and children into the store. who wins these so called prizes. boycott mcdonalds - David Awww don't pick up on the Happy Meal Toys. I always found some of those fun. They are always guaranteed too, if you buy a Happy Meal you *know* you will get some sort of toy. - cheril

I of course was one of the many who faithfully took their children to McDonald's in hopes of winning them, or us, a prize. My 9 year-old son ate so many Spicy McChicken value meals (no lettuce or mayo, add cheese), which of course had to be large-size so he could get the extra game pieces, that I thought he would surely get tired of them. He was under the impression (delusion) that the more he ate, the more game pieces he got and the more chances he had to win. We have at least two game boards that are missing only one of each necessary game piece to win a prize.

 While it may seem that McDonald's is trying to compensate for the fraud perpetrated against us all, do you suppose these games will be completely "no purchase necessary"? I have spent a ton of money on McDonald's food already. Do they now expect me to spend even more money, with the odds still astronomically high against me, so I might NOW be able to win my son that 4-wheel ATV he so desperately wanted? - McMom The official rules for the new game state "NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING." However, I am unable to figure out from these official rules, exactly how one gets chosen as one of these "instant winners". - cheril

Although I commend McDonald's efforts to extend good will toward its public by offering a 5-day "instant win", I will not visit McDonalds again soon. My children and I visited many times over the promotional period for the scammed game hoping to win. Although I am not unhappy that we did not win... I certainly knew the odds... our efforts and time could and will in the future go elsewhere. - Katybgood

I feel that both McDonalds and the firm handling the game are liable. It's unimaginable that a contest where the value of prizes was not conducted under strict controls to prevent this from happening. There is no excuse and as consumers should demand that McDonalds not be let off the hook. Big deal...a new contest so we can go spend even more money than we already have at McDonalds...whoop-d-doo. I can only imagine that there are many fat, broke, and now resentful game piece collectors. How sad. It's only a matter of time before somebody files a lawsuit class action or not. If anyone does I'm in. - Dickie1107

 I read all the stories and your visitors comments. I'm very sure this year's game was a total sting operation! Wow, how exciting, it should make a TV movie. Just think: 8 people arrested today, the Monopoly game just ended, McDonalds already has offical rules for the make up game,etc... it all adds up. Kudos to MCD and the FBI. - Asher  I agree it does sound suspicious, but what an elaborate and expensive way to do it.  So what are the odds they have a Monopoly game next year??? I hope they still have one. It will be the only way to build up the trust again. - cheril

I think i should be refunded every penny I spent on McDonald's disgustingly fatting food just for the game stamps! - Justin!  The new game doesn't require a purchase, you just have to go to the store.  (From there I don't know what happens) - cheril

As a McDonald's employee for only 4 months, this kind of stuff shocks me! Even though that us folks in Canada don't have the monopoly game, it's still a surprise to find out that the large corporation I work for has been scammed! - Matt It wasn't in Canada this year was it?  Hmmmm In the previous years it had been. Makes me again wonder about the timing and actual reason for this years game. - cheril

 I was totally shocked to hear this news. I have been a big fan of their Millionaire game for as long as I can remember and I loved the Millionaire Game. For the last year or two I have mailed off for 20 game pieces each game and made several trips to McDonalds, always doubling up on hash browns and supersizing to get more chances. Wow, now we find out I had no chance of winning the big prize. Of course even if the pieces in question were in circulation I had a better chance of getting hit by lightning while i was in the store in line for my food, but part of the thrill is the chance to win.

Of course, it appears McDonalds isn't responsible for what happened and I will try very hard no to let my opinion of the company to be hit by this recent developments. But its is impossible for McDonalds to right the wrong. The new game is probably all the McDonalds can do, but there will be skeptics claiming this is another profit making weekend for them.

Its a catch 22 all the way around. - Artie M I wonder how many people will make a special trip to McDonalds this weekend just to try and be one of the 10 daily winners. - cheril

according 2 the CNN article "all of the big-prize winners seemed to be related and/or living in the same general area" I'm shocked it took them over 5 years to figure this out. - jack_J-P I also "heard" they (FBI) just found out last year.  Makes me wonder if this year's game (remember it was very late this year) was somehow a set-up to catch all these people.- cheril

I feel they owe me my money back. Our family never eats at McDonalds except during the Monopoly game. The food sucks and is overpriced. We like DQ or BK or actually anything better than them and if it weren't for the yearly contest we'd never eat there. - Scott C The rules for the new contest say no purchase is necessary.  You have to go to the store though. - cheril 

Given the amount of money MCDs makes, They had better cough up some substantial winnings.

I am sure there will be some lawsuits regarding the false advertising. - bogman  Regarding the lawsuits, I wouldn't be surprised about that. Don't know how good of one it could be though. Remember, McDonald's got scammed too. - cheril

It doesn't really matter that McDonalds is running this new contest, how many times did all of you go there instead of somewhere else so you could get the game piece. McDonalds has made millions of dollars because of these contest's. Forget the new contest and give all of us something. Think about it, we all got scammed, they made money. 6 years I can estimate an extra 5 to 6 extra trips made per year because of the contest. A family of 5 at $20.00 a pop, forget the new contest and flippin fix it for all of us, not just 50 lucky people. We all got scammed not just 50 people, McDonalds still made the millions extra. The Simon company owes each and every one of us at least the cost of those extra trips. - Igotmcscamed

Our family is very upset at this alleged hoax!  We recently moved back to the States after being overseas for five years and were purchasing food products from McDonald's specifically to play this fun game and were enjoying it!  Needless to say, we didn't win anything more than a cheeseburger and an apple pie, which we would have been happy with prior to this release.  What a disappointment!

We certainly hope McDonald's will be more vigilant in marketing companies they choose to do business with in the future!  We think McDonald's should reward everyone of their valuable loyal customers with some sort of free food offer.  For every food item ordered, you get pieces to win future food products. WE LOVE McDONALDS and are HAPPY to be back in AMERICA (we think?)!!! :-) - Scott and Tammy

Hi I found an article on CNN in regards to the monopoly fraud... Hope that helps! - tea  Thank you, I will adding it to the list of links on the page I will be creating.  cheril

Unfortunately it sounds like the 2001 Monopoly game was just the tip of the iceburg. McDonalds Monopoly being such a high-profile game, I still can't believe these people thought they could pull this off without being found out. What were they thinking? - Will I think the press release also states the Millionaire game was involved.  :-(  cheril

Check this story, you'll find it interested. - M@ Thanks!!  I will be creating a page of news links related to this story and posting it there.- cheril

In May I sent a high winning dollar amount game piece to McDonalds (actually the redemption center in Los Angeles) and was notified in July that this was not a high winning game piece.  As you can expect, I was really upset and didn't know who to turn to.  I've called the marketing agency .... in GA to ask a person there what I could do to appeal the decision but could never get a hold of anyone.  I wonder if this is the "employee"  that has allegedly committed fraud??? ...... We scratched off a game piece that was very difficult to remove and it was not clear what amount we had won.  The amount did start off with a high dollar amount though we couldn't make out the rest.  I called McDonalds several times and they told me it would be no problem because I had not messed with the silver oval or other security areas.  The package was very hard to scratch off because of either condensation or grease from the french fries.  I was very upset about their answer (though they did try and appease me with $5.00 worth of McDonalds bucks, LOL) and vowed to fight it.   What do you think?  - Concerned  As I explained in my email reply, this is a different situation than what the FBI is reporting. However, I expect that if there is any other fraud going on, we will hear about it. Try to keep your eye on the news for any further information. I will also try to keep information about this updated and posted on my site. :-) - cheril

*New* 2001 Instant Win Giveaway Game

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