16 Unethical Life Hacks People Admit They Do

We all want to succeed in life, but sometimes we might resort to unethical means to achieve our goals. From lying on resumes to taking advantage of loopholes, some people have admitted to using questionable tactics to get ahead. Here are ten unethical life hacks that some individuals have confessed to using.

1. Pretend to Be a Student For Discounts

Some commenters admitted to pretending to be students to get discounts on things like movie tickets, museum entrance fees, and even car rentals. One person shared a story about using a fake student ID to get a discount at a local fast-food restaurant.

2. Lie On Resumes

Several people have admitted to lying on their resumes to get a job. One commenter shared that they once listed a fake degree on their resume and got the job, even though they never completed college. Another person said they exaggerated their past job responsibilities to make themselves look more qualified.

3. Take Advantage of Company Policies

One commenter shared that their company offered a “no questions asked” return policy on electronics. They would buy a new TV or game console, use it for a week or two, and then return it for a full refund. While technically not illegal, this type of behavior is unethical and can harm the company’s bottom line.

4. Claim Fake Allergies to Get Out Of Social Events

Some people admitted to claiming fake allergies to get out of attending social events they didn’t want to go to. For example, one commenter said they would claim to be allergic to cats to avoid a party at a friend’s house that had a cat.

5. Use Expired Coupons

Several commenters shared stories about using expired coupons to save money. One person said they would use a 20% off coupon that had expired years ago and still worked at their local craft store.

6. Shoplift

While not everyone admitted to shoplifting, a few commenters said they had stolen items from stores before. One person said they would steal small items like candy bars and lip balm because they didn’t want to pay for them.

7. Take Advantage of Return Policies

Similar to taking advantage of company policies, some people admitted to abusing store return policies to get their money back for items they no longer needed or wanted. One commenter shared that they bought a dress for a wedding, wore it to the event, and then returned it the next day for a full refund.

8. Use Fake Reviews

Several commenters admitted to using fake reviews to boost their business or harm their competitors. One person shared that they paid people to write positive reviews for their restaurant on review sites like Yelp.

9. Pretend to Be Sick to Get Out of Work

Some people confessed to calling in sick when they weren’t actually sick to get out of work. One person said they would fake a cough on the phone to make their boss think they were really sick.

10. Take Advantage of Loopholes in the Law

Finally, some people admitted to taking advantage of loopholes in the law to get what they want. One person shared that they once parked in a no-parking zone and left their car there all day because they knew the city couldn’t tow it due to a legal loophole.

11. Paying less for wedding vendors

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A Reddit user shared an experience of a friend who misrepresented an event as something other than a wedding to secure lower prices from vendors can be seen as dishonest. Wedding services often come with a premium due to the complexity and significance of the event. Not disclosing the actual purpose to vendors is a form of deception.

12. Skipping parking garage fees

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Manipulating parking systems by taking advantage of the ticket machine to avoid paying parking fees is essentially stealing the service provided. It’s a form of avoiding payment for a service you’ve used.

13. Manipulating TV providers for free channels

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Continuously threatening to cancel services to receive additional perks from TV providers, such as free channels, is exploiting the company’s willingness to retain customers. It involves dishonesty by pretending to discontinue services when there’s no intention to do so.

14. Using fancy hotel restrooms for personal use

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While it might seem harmless, using a fancy hotel’s restroom without being a guest is essentially taking advantage of a service meant for paying customers. It’s exploiting an establishment’s facilities without supporting it financially.

15. Claiming lost items at hotels for free goods

man and woman wearing sunglasses — Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

A Reddit user shared how they pretended to have lost their sunglasses at a hotel to acquire free ones. Such behavior is also common with other common items such as black umbrellas. However, this is an act of dishonesty and taking advantage of the hotel’s customer service policies.

16. Downloading watermarked low-res images

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Using a watermarked low-resolution image to obtain a higher-resolution version without paying for it breaches copyright and usage rights. It’s essentially stealing a high-quality image without proper authorization or compensation to the creator or distributor.