The next day was 9/11. “Greed is always what ends up taking people down in a situation such as this. At first he gave the winning stickers to friends and family in return for a share of the prize. The official synopsis reads: “This documentary series chronicles the stranger-than-fiction story of an ex-cop turned security auditor who rigged the McDonald’s Monopoly game promotion for a decade, stealing millions of dollars and building a vast network of co-conspirators across the U.S. A Cincinnati native directed new HBO documentary series "McMillion$" about a rigged McDonald's Monopoly game of the 1990s. Determined to dig up more details about the McDonald’s Monopoly game conspiracy, Hernandez filed a FOIA request, which took 3 years to go through. Director James said: “If this had happened for a shorter amount of time, nobody would have ever found out. McMillions is a documentary series which tells the true life story of how Jerry Jacobson was able to swindle fast food giant McDonalds out of $24 million dollars by manipulating McDonald's Monopoly. Here’s how it worked. James Lee Hernandez, who co-directed the documentary series, said: “Everyone thought you never had a chance to win the McDonald’s Monopoly game, but you never really knew why.”. RadioTimes.com spoke to directors James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte about the stranger than fiction new docuseries. People lost their jobs because of one person’s greed. IT was the popular game of chance that saw McDonald’s customers winning big cash prizes. Monopoly first ran a Monopoly-themed promotion in the late '80s. Production has begun on McMillions, a documentary series chronicling the stranger-than-fiction story of an ex-cop turned security auditor who rigged McDonald’s Monopoly game promotion for a decade, stealing millions of dollars and building a vast network of co-conspirators across the U.S. Then, in 1995, at the same time that McDonald’s introduced bigger cash prizes — including a million-dollar jackpot — Jacobson ramped up his operation. Lawyers will also come to the show. Real-life McDonald's Monopoly scandal inspires shocking documentary McDonald's documentary McMillions is available to watch in the UK this week and is centered on … View our online Press Pack. The FBI joined McDonald’s in an effort to put an end to it. Agent Mathews said: “Between 1989 and 2001 there were no legitimate winners of the high-value game pieces in the McDonald’s Monopoly game. After … The documentary goes deep into the very peculiar saga. According to HBO, the McDonald’s documentary McMillions will feature footage and firsthand accounts of FBI agents who blew up the scam. If you were around during the heyday of the McDonald’s Monopoly game in the 1990s, you probably wondered why a) you never seemed to win anything more than a … McMillions is a documentary series which tells the true life story of how Jerry Jacobson was able to swindle fast food giant McDonalds out of $24 million dollars by manipulating McDonald's Monopoly. McMillions six-part documentary exposes $24m McDonald’s Monopoly game fraud. Monopoly first ran a Monopoly-themed promotion in the late '80s. McMillions six-part documentary exposes $24m McDonald’s Monopoly Meanwhile, McDonald’s customers were being denied the chance of winning the big prizes. The Monopoly game involved customers receiving two coloured stickers when they bought food. In 2012, while scrolling through discussions on social media site Reddit, James found a post that read: “Today I learned nobody really won the McDonald’s monopoly game”. McDonald’s promotional Monopoly game allowed customers to collect game pieces in exchange for prizes ranging from a free small fries to $1 million. HBO Max icon. McMillion$. The game first ran in the U.S. in 1987 and has since been used worldwide. Produced by Hollywood A-lister Mark Wahlberg, McMillions, which starts tomorrow night, features interviews with McDonald’s staff and rookie FBI Special Agent Doug Mathews, who was determined to “burn down the criminal enterprise”. Mark, 48, says: “It was one of those things where it just sounds so far-fetched and unreal. The theft of McDonald's Corp (NYSE: MCD) promotional Monopoly pieces is likely the biggest financial scandal you've never heard of.. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. A new HBO documentary about the McDonald's Monopoly game fraud tells a totally unbelievable true story. Soon Operation Final Answer was launched — which was chosen ahead of jokey suggestions “Operation Fallen Arches” and “Operation Unhappy Meal”. One source close to Jacobson later said he had sent the mystery donation in the hopes of getting a more lenient sentence if he was ever caught. Golden Arches, Golden Trophies: ‘McMillions$’ Documentary Series, About McDonald’s Monopoly Scam, Goes For Emmy Wins. "That’s a big reason why people don’t even know about it, because the news completely focuses for the next year or more on 9/11.”. “If they’d kept it controllable, Uncle Jerry would have got away with it.”. The story behind "McMillions" is as delicious as a thick juicy burger. 08/07/2020. They, and the legal and fraudulent prizewinners as well. McMillions is the six-part documentary miniseries about the McDonald’s Monopoly game scam. He even anonymously posted a winning $1million game piece to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee. ‘McMillions’ Review: McDonald’s Wild Monopoly Scandal Gets an Immensely Entertaining HBO Doc. He found a local newspaper article but it took another three years and a Freedom of Information request to find the FBI agents and federal prosecutors involved in the case. , “A cast of unbelievable real-life characters.”. The McDonald's Monopoly game is a sales promotion run by fast food restaurant chain McDonald's, with a theme based on the Hasbro board game Monopoly. After … McMillions (stylized as McMillion$) is a documentary miniseries about the McDonald's Monopoly promotion scam that occurred between 1989 and 2001. James, who worked at McDonald’s as a teenager, said: “When I spoke to them, they said it was one of their favourite cases, but nobody had ever got in touch with them about it.”. McDonald’s Monopoly Contest Scam Gets Exposed in HBO Documentary ‘McMillion$’ Trailer (Video) Six-part doc series debuts at Sundance followed by premiere on HBO on Feb. 3. Agent Doug Mathews spotted the message scrawled on a Post-It note on a colleague’s computer and was immediately intrigued. Get the first 3 months of Skillshare for $0.99, BUT it’s only available until the end of January! For other inquiries, Contact Us. In all, they discovered a complex network of 53 friends and family — and at the centre of it all was Jacobson. Directors James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte take you even deeper into the story of a fraud ring that rigged the results of the McDonald’s Monopoly game, and how the FBI took it down. Unable to resist the opportunity, he started to steal winning tickets and use his own seals to secure the packages again. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter. McMillions is a new six-part documentary series being released on HBO. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed, For 12 years a gang of masterminds infiltrated the McDonald's Monopoly game, With 'Uncle Jerry' leading them, the gang managed to swindle the burger chain out of £20million, Uncle Jerry and his chosen winners, including Gloria Brown, were eventually brought down by a rookie FBI agent, Their scam fell apart when cops received an anonymous tip that the winners were all related, Now the incredible story is being revealed by Mark Wahlberg, who has produced a six-part documentary series, The HBO series was co-directed by James Lee Hernandez, who came across the story while scrolling through discussions on Reddit, Jacobson came up with scam while working for the firm that produced the monopoly pieces for McDonald’s, He later enlisted strip club owner and mob boss Gennaro Colombo to recruit other fake winners, After Colombo died in 1998, Jacobson carried on with the help of a cocaine trafficker, a Mormon businessman and Colombo’s wife Robin, FBI Special Agent Doug Mathews was determined to 'burn down the criminal enterprise', He launched an investigation after spotting this Post-It note on a colleague’s computer, Operation Final Answer led to 51 people being convicted and Jacobson being sentenced to 37 months in prison, McMillions airs tomorrow night on Sky Documentaries, when a complex criminal network got involved, “Uncle Jerry” was thought to be former cop Jerome Jacobson, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Hugh Hart. From Executive Producer Mark Wahlberg, the HBO documentary series McMillion$ takes a look into the con that allowed one man to rig the results of McDonald’s popular Monopoly game for an entire decade. The tale of the McDonald’s Monopoly-game heist was one hell of a story. The McDonald’s Monopoly case comes in, and it seems important because it’s a large fraud that’s nationwide. February 3, 2020 8:00 AM PST. HBO’s ‘McMillion$’ docuseries shows how cheaters scammed McDonald’s Monopoly game. RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk, GMB's Alex Beresford addresses Piers Morgan row after host stormed off, Piers ‘spoken to’ by ITV after saying he ‘didn’t believe’ Meghan was suicidal, Dawn French pays tribute to Dibley star Trevor Peacock as he dies aged 89, Katie Price’s daughter Princess, 13, has TikTok back after 'permanent ban', Prince Harry’s socks mocked during Oprah interview with Meghan Markle, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Jacobson was sentenced to 37 months in prison and had £10million of his possessions confiscated. James said: “People have asked us if this is a victimless crime, as McDonald’s is a billion-dollar company. But in 1989 he stole a £20,000 prize token and gave it to his stepbrother. “Uncle Jerry” was thought to be former cop Jerome Jacobson, who was head of security at Simon Marketing, the Atlanta, Georgia, firm that produced the monopoly pieces for McDonald’s. Documentary. His job involved overseeing the printing and transportation of the stickers. Honestly what they should have done is this: Do it as a tv series where it shows the main mcdonalds guy starting before he starts at mcdonalds and then slowly works his way up into the scam and becomes the "mcdonald's kingpin" if you will. A new HBO documentary series chronicles the plot that siphoned off $24 million in McDonald’s prizes. 1 Season | 6 Episodes | TV-14. If you don't remember the $24 million scam perpetrated on McDonald’s Monopoly promotion, you're not alone. Documentary Mark Wahlberg McDonalds. In fact, Gloria had mortgaged her home to buy the ticket from Colombo for £32,000, and agreed to pay a further £41,000 every year. Directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, the series details how the scam was perpetrated by Jerry Jacobson, the head of security for the agency that ran the promotion, and how he recruited a wide range of accomplices. If you’re a current HBO subscriber, you might already have access to HBO Max — all of HBO plus even more blockbuster movies, must-see series, and new Max Originals. If you’ve never played, the McDonald’s Monopoly promotion involves collecting tiny peel-off game pieces that were found on the packaging of the chain’s menu items and in print ads. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. He died in a road accident in 1998, but Jacobson carried on the scam with the help of a cocaine trafficker, a Mormon businessman and Colombo’s wife Robin. The official podcast of the new HBO documentary series McMillion$, from Unrealistic Ideas and Fun Meter. The fact the story is not widely known comes down in part to the timing. Related: 10 Best Documentaries on HBO, Ranked. Each wee… A documentary series chronicles the stranger-than-fiction story of an ex-cop turned security auditor who rigged McDonald’s Monopoly game (Photo: … The promotion has used other names, such as Monopoly: Pick Your Prize! Yet like the criminal scheme at its core, the HBO documentary inspired by it proves a little too cute and clever for its own good But when a complex criminal network got involved, the fraudsters were “lovin’ it”, too. Read More. To his staff, Jacobson was meticulous, even checking their shoes at the end of a shift to make sure none of the game stickers had gone walkabout, intentionally or not. “You know, innocent people or people who didn’t think they were really committing any serious crimes.”. These included Robin Colombo and Gloria Brown, who was given probation and ordered to pay back £41 a month. |. Michael Hoover’s elaborate story about finding a $1m McDonald’s Monopoly game … McMillions: the bizarre story of how one man stole $24m from McDonald's. The tale of the McDonald’s Monopoly-game heist was one hell of a story. James said: “The FBI rightfully just shifted gears and something like the McDonald’s Monopoly game doesn’t seem so bad any more. Business California News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. The series explores the McDonald's Monopoly Game scam that occured between 1995 and 2001. The incredible true story behind McMillions: McDonalds, Monopoly and the Mafia. “There’s so much humour in these episodes, but there’s also a lot of heartbreak. That year, the supplier of the tamper-proof seals used to transport packets of winning stickers to McDonald’s packaging centres around the US accidentally sent a batch directly to Jacobson. The 'Funny And Tragic' Documentary 'McMillions' McDonald's ongoing Monopoly promotion, where guests collect properties and hope to win a … The ‘McMillions’ Monopoly Scheme, Explained. The FBI tracked winners, tapped phones and even lured a suspect into a hoax promotional video, with Doug Mathews posing as the director. The history of the McDonalds Monopoly is a fascinating true crime story, but the version told in McMillions isn't the whole truth. The series explores the McDonald's Monopoly Game scam that occured between 1995 and 2001. He also enlisted strip club owner and mob boss Gennaro Colombo — who may also have been Uncle Jerry — to recruit other fake winners, including struggling single mum Gloria Brown. But immediately, when 9/11 happened, the lens completely changes. It tells the story of the McDonald’s Monopoly Game fraud, in which an ex-cop nicknamed Uncle Jerry — in an operation that went undetected from … Selected items on the McDonald’s menu included peel-off tabs with the names of the properties you’d find on a Monopoly board. The contest started in 1987 as the brainchild of Simon Marketing, th… For decades, the McDonald's Monopoly game was being rigged and ran by a mobster who would take a cut of the winnings. Read More, Try your luck with the official McMillion$ Game. Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring this video! Hernandez’s interest was immediately piqued – he had been obsessed with the Monopoly promotion as a kid and his first job had been working behind the counter at … The new trailer from HBO, which you can watch below, boasts that the McDonald’s Monopoly story might be “the biggest fraud you’ve never heard of. It is produced by Unrealistic Ideas, the non-scripted production company launched by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. The object was to collect various Monopoly properties that could be redeemed for cash prizes, with some instant-win pieces ranging from free food to cars, vacations, and millions of dollars. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. basically a … This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. For 12 years until 2001, the burger chain’s Monopoly promotion was infiltrated by real-life hamburglars who stole nearly £20million. But immediately, when 9/11 happened, the lens completely changes. The promotion has used other names, such as Monopoly: Pick Your Prize! James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte’s new six-part documentary, “McMillions,” which premiered Feb. 3, is HBO’s latest bid for your ongoing attention: Its twisty, many-fingered, onion-lay In total, there are six episodes and the first one aired on Sky Documentaries on Wednesday, May 27th 2020. Now the astonishing story has been snapped up for the big screen by actors and screenwriters Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and has also been turned into a six-part HBO series for new channel Sky Documentaries. Chicago-born James Lee Hernandez and co-director Brian Lazarte shot a documentary series detailing how an ex-police officer rigged the ’90s McDonald’s Monopoly game for a decade. McMillions documentary reveals incredible story of how fraudsters swindled McDonald’s Monopoly out of £20million No, McMillions is not available on Netflix. The theft of McDonald's Corp (NYSE: MCD) promotional Monopoly pieces is likely the biggest financial scandal you've never heard of.. By. It's produced by HBO and will air on new channel Sky Documentaries and subscription service NowTV. (2001), Monopoly Best Chance Game (2003–2005), Monopoly/Millionaire Game, Prize … As HBO's documentary describes, it was the brainchild of the now-defunct company Simon Marketing — a casualty of the scam. The McDonald's Monopoly scam ran for six years (Credit: HBO) But it didn't stop there, as throughout the years, 'Uncle Jerry' begun to get a little too confident in his scheme, involving a whole cohort of questionable characters including the Italian Mafia and … The series premiered in the US on February 3, 2020, on HBO, and all episodes were made available in the UK on May 27, 2020, … The pair split the winnings. I mean how crazy, bulls*** is that?”. “The cast of characters is absolutely fascinating. From Executive Producer Mark Wahlberg, the HBO documentary series McMillion$ takes a look into the con that allowed one man to rig the results of McDonald’s popular Monopoly game for an entire decade. Between 1989 and 2001, a mysterious man then known as “Uncle Jerry” orchestrated the McScam, which ultimately involved more than 50 friends and family defrauding the burger chain of nearly £20million. “Everyone wanted to win that game, so if somebody came to you with the opportunity to claim a prize and all you had to do was say you are the one who peeled that game piece, it’s likely that you would have done it.”, GOT a story? The McDonald’s Monopoly was a sales promotion game based on the Hasbro board game Monopoly. Beaming for the cameras, she told reporters: “Hopefully my son and I can live the kind of life I dreamed of.”. Lit up by an array of colorful personalities, directors James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte balance compassion and levity in this bonkers true story. Colombo also cashed in his own winning ticket, netting a sports car and then even appearing in a McDonald’s video to promote the game. It saw a group of associates, led by ex-cop Jerome … He sold one ticket worth £164,000 to his butcher for £36,000 and another of the same value to his nephew. © 2021 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The trial started in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 10, 2001. HBO's docuseries McMillions investigates a massive conspiracy that involved criminals rigging the McDonalds Monopoly promotion; however, the series leaves out some key aspects of the story. She hit the headlines aged 39 in 1997 when she scooped the million-dollar jackpot — supposedly after buying a Happy Meal, large fries and a Coke. The McDonald's Monopoly game is a sales promotion run by fast food restaurant chain McDonald's, with a theme based on the Hasbro board game Monopoly.The game first ran in the U.S. in 1987 and has since been used worldwide. Warning: It's trickier than it looks. The McDonald’s Monopoly case comes in, and it seems important because it’s a large fraud that’s nationwide. HBO Is Airing A Documentary About The $24 Million Scam Surrounding The McDonald's Monopoly Game In March 2000, the FBI received an anonymous tip-off that three of the $1million winners were related. Determined to dig up more details about the McDonald’s Monopoly game conspiracy, Hernandez filed a FOIA request, which took 3 years to go through. McMillions: the bizarre story of how one man stole $24m from McDonald's. Another 51 people were also convicted of the US charge of “mail fraud”. A new HBO documentary about the McDonald's Monopoly game fraud tells a totally unbelievable true story. It’s an amazing story. McMillions review – a rip-roaring romp around the McDonald's Monopoly scandal 3 / 5 stars 3 out of 5 stars. Watch on. Ben Travers. The case went to trial the day before 9/11. "McMillions," a new documentary series from HBO, reimagines "true crime" tropes to relate the $24-million scheme to defraud the McDonald's Monopoly game. James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, makers of the six-part series, share how they got interested in the case and what documenting it entailed. As HBO's documentary describes, it was the brainchild of the now-defunct company Simon Marketing — a casualty of the scam. That easy windfall gave Jacobson a thirst for more. The story behind "McMillions" is as delicious as a thick juicy burger. The McDonald's Monopoly fraud featured people stealing from a multi-billion dollar brand money that the company already intended to give away. The stickers mimicked properties from the board game and matching sets netted a prize, from free fries to holidays and cash up to $1million. This documentary series chronicles the stranger-than-fiction story of an ex-cop turned security auditor who rigged the McDonald’s Monopoly game promotion for a decade, stealing millions of dollars and building a vast network of co-conspirators across the U.S. It teases how investigators went from being dismissive to, ultimately, completely invested. “A really critical thing we wanted to highlight in McMillions was all the people who participated in this had to deal with the ramifications of it — it affects them even to this day. Promotion in the late '80s Your luck with the official McMillion $.. A winning $ 1million winners were related: McDonalds, Monopoly and the Mafia it..., innocent people or people who didn ’ t think they were really committing any serious crimes... Ran in the late '80s it to his stepbrother said: “ If they ’ d kept it controllable Uncle. Post-It note on a Post-It note on a colleague ’ s a large fraud that ’ s documentary will! 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