Fake Grocery Giveaway Leaves Hundreds Disappointed

Groceries and gas are on the minds of many Michiganders as prices for both continue to climb. A fake flyer advertising free groceries recently circulated, drawing hundreds of people to a store.

Free Groceries and Free Gas

With grocery and gas prices remaining high, it’s easy to see why getting either for free would be exciting. For a family of four, groceries can cost $230 to $380 per week, while a tank of regular gas averages $49 to $62. Add those expenses together, and the total can climb quickly.

If you can pay it forward by covering someone’s groceries or gas, you’d certainly be helping someone out. But what if someone shared a flyer on social media promising free groceries at a specific time and location? That’s exactly what happened after one Michigander created a fake flyer.

Read More: Find Fresh Food Direct From Michigan Farmers

Fake Flyer Causes Hundreds to Line Up for Free Groceries

A flyer circulated online announcing free groceries at a Michigan store. The flyer claimed the location was hosting an official giveaway and prompting hundreds of residents to show up.

WXYZ reported that a fake flyer circulated on social media caused hundreds of residents to line up at Mike’s Fresh Market on Detroit’s west side, expecting free groceries. The prankster created the flyer using the store’s name and based it on a real grocery giveaway held the day before at the store’s east-side location.

YouTuber MD Motivator made a major donation to the store chain’s east side location, providing tens of thousands of dollars to help customers pay for their groceries. The event was widely publicized, which may help explain how residents were fooled by the fake flyer that directed them to the wrong location the following day.

Get our free mobile app

Police were called to help control the chaos and disperse the long line of people who had gathered expecting free groceries. Many residents were left disappointed and frustrated. So far, there is no word yet on who created or shared the fake flyer.

👇BELOW: Top 22 Cities Spending the Most on Groceries in America👇

Top 22 Cities Spending the Most on Groceries in America

WalletHub compared grocery costs for 26 everyday items across 100 major U.S. cities, then measured those totals against each city’s median household income. The results show where people spend the highest and lowest percentages of their earnings on groceries, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and economic research sources. Here are Top 22 Cities Spending the Most on Groceries in America:

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow