Life hacks are often promoted as a means to make many of the day-to-day tasks we have to take care of simpler.
You probably have a few that you’ve picked up and integrated into your routine.
But what about the ones that don’t get discussed? From the wildly unbelievable to the hilariously wrong and everything in between, I’ve looked everywhere for life hacks that you’re not going to find circulating on Meta or in books.
Here are 15 unethical hacks people use every day.
Note: Just because someone else does it doesn’t mean you should. Some unethical life hacks may be illegal!
#1. Wear Press or Maintenance Gear If You Want to Go Anywhere
Stories abound of people putting on a nametag and carrying a camera or putting a hi-vis vest in order to get into places they shouldn’t be in.
As it turns out, if you walk with a purpose and don’t stop to catch anyone’s eye, people will assume you automatically belong there and aren’t likely to stop you.
I know someone that was on the field celebrating the Philadelphia Phillies World Series win with the team because of this in 2008.
Just take my advice and be careful where you use this!
There’s a vast difference between getting backstage in a concert and some people who have used this to get into a building they didn’t have access to.
#2. Lay Down When You Call in Sick for Work
Among some of the funniest unethical life hacks are those revolving around getting out of work.
Let’s face it: work isn’t something that we’re always excited about. Most of us want to call out every now and again.
If you do, one popular tip is to lay down when you call in sick.
It apparently helps you sound more congested, which may work in your favor if you need to give a convincing performance.
#3. Visit Places Shortly After a Disaster or Major Incident
This isn’t necessarily unethical, but it may throw people off and feel like you’re doing something wrong.
People who travel after disasters and other incidents that cause an impact locally will typically save money and get more of the experience they’re looking for.
That’s because, for the most part, people are avoiding that place because of the recent disaster.
If you’re looking to save money on travel, try traveling after a country has faced a major disaster.
#4. Call in an Order Where You Work and Never Show
What happens to things that are ordered but not delivered? Well… they just sit there, unclaimed and uneaten.
That is, unless workers are able to take these orders for themselves.
That’s where the unethical life hack comes in.
Some workers will call or place an order online, wait until no one comes to pick it up, and then eat it themselves.
It seems to work for most employees, so long as they never get caught.
#5. Always Create New Accounts for Subscription/Food Delivery Apps
There are so many places that will give you freebies or promotions for signing up for their service for the first time.
A few examples that spring to my mind include streaming subscriptions and food delivery apps.
One way that people take full advantage of these things is by creating new accounts each time, enabling them to use the promo or free item and save throughout the year.
The way that they do this may range from relatively unharmful to potentially illegal, but to say it’s an uncommon practice would be a blatant lie.
#6. Ask to See the Lost and Found Bin When You Need Something
Have you ever left the house only to find that you forgot something like a pair of sunglasses?
Or alternatively, have you ever just wanted a pair of sunglasses without having to pay for them?
One life hack that surprised me was that some people will go to lost and found bins at their local grocery store or other local establishments and claim that they lost something.
When the employee empties the contents of the bin, the person will pretend to recognize what they lost and be on their merry way.
It’s entirely unethical but apparently very effective!
#7. Punch Your Own Reward Cards When You Want a Free Item
Reward cards have largely been replaced in lieu of apps with reward points and coupons.
But you still might come across some hole-in-the-wall joints that offer them.
When they do, people may punch their own reward cards in order to get whatever free item is promised when they reach the final square on their cards.
The only challenge that comes with this is making sure you’re not doing it too often, getting recognized, or being given a punch card with very unique punches.
While not a great idea, this is one that I can see being very successful when executed well.
#8. Lie on Your Resume to Get a Job When Times Are Difficult
The job market is tough for almost everyone, with people who are “overly qualified” not being able to find a job for stretches at a time despite their experience and capabilities.
Those who have fewer accolades or a higher education may find it to be equally, if not more, tough.
One way people are getting around it is by lying on their resumes.
The key to this working is to make sure to lie in such a way that won’t be checked and to make sure you can back your lie (or learn the essential skills) so that you can deliver once you’re hired.
It’s unethical, but it’s a life tip that’s hard to judge people for as everyone needs to eat.
#9. Make Excuses to Get Services Turned Back on
Power off?
Cable canceled?
As with most of the other unethical life hacks here, the reported key to fixing everything is to lie.
With services like cable, some report calling and claiming that they were out of the state or the country, which gives them an extra month of cable while they catch up with the bills.
With services like electricity or water, claiming you have a child or looking for other workarounds where the service people can’t do anything but turn your utilities back on seems to be effective.
There are multiple ways people seem to be using this life hack to get temporarily free or returned services.
#10. Buy Something New and Bring the Broken One Back
Unethical life hacks surrounding item returns seem to abound these days.
One I see constantly are people who buy things online, request a return, and send a rock or something else back in order to profit.
But another unethical life hack I discovered is that when someone’s things break, they’ll purchase a new item, claim the new item came broken, and then return the broken one they just paid to replace.
Apparently, online returns aren’t as heavily checked as they should be!
#11. Tell the Judge Something They Don’t Want to Hear to Get Out of Jury Duty
Getting out of jury duty is a goal for nearly everyone who gets that dreaded summons.
And, if we’re being entirely honest, the real crime is paying citizens dollars a day to do something that pulls them away from work and home.
One of the most common unethical life hacks out there is lying to get out of jury duty.
Saying that you can’t be impartial or coming up with a reason why you can’t be involved in the trial almost always results in you being sent home, if you got that far in the first place.
#12. Buy and Sell on the Black Market During Wartime
Some unethical life hacks are a lot less lighter than others.
One such one I saw was someone advocating for buying and selling on the black market during wartime.
For the most part, many people aren’t going to get caught up in the black market at all.
If anything, most people like myself when I was younger, might think the black market is a literal outdoor market you could visit.
However, this might be unethical but justified to a degree.
Wartime economies are not citizen-friendly, and some people need to do what they need to do in order to survive.
#13. Create Fake Dating Profiles to Make Friends
One of the most hilarious yet terrible unethical life hacks I’ve come across is using dating apps to make friends.
What people will do is create a desirable profile, match with someone, wait for them in their agreed meeting spot, and then swoop in when they see the target has realized they’ve been stood up.
It’s not the best way to start a friendship, but it is a way.
#14. Don’t Pay or Pay Very Little of Your Medical Debt
Avoiding debt is always a challenge, but there are a lot of people who advocate for this unethical life hack as, in their words, there are few consequences to ignoring it.
Medical debt can put people back for life, so it’s not unsurprising to see this life hack crop up here.
For those who are worried about repercussions, some recommend sending a very small amount.
If accepted, it may indicate an organization’s willingness to accept that small amount as the monthly payment plan.
#15. Use Self-Checkout to Ring Up Items As Cheaper Items
This unethical life hack is quite popular.
With the proliferation of self-checkout centers, people are coming up with a multitude of creative ways to shoplift.
One of the top ways is to scan something as something else, thereby decreasing the price and making it more affordable.
Of course, this can spell out trouble as it is illegal and pursued by some larger retail chains.
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Jon Dulin is the passionate leader of Unfinished Success, a personal development website that inspires people to take control of their own lives and reach their full potential. His commitment to helping others achieve greatness shines through in everything he does. He’s an unstoppable force with lots of wisdom, creativity, and enthusiasm – all focused on helping others build a better future. Jon enjoys writing articles about productivity, goal setting, self-development, and mindset. He also uses quotes and affirmations to help motivate and inspire himself. You can learn more about him on his About page.