Expense-a-Steak: Delicious, Delicious (Fake) Fraud

Thursday, 08 October 2009

Expense-a-Steak: Delicious, Delicious (Fake) Fraud

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Employers and workers alike have been cutting down on frivolous expenses, which in many a workplace has spelled the de facto triumph of brown bags over juicy lunchtime steaks. And let's not just pity the rumbly-tummied employees with crustless PB&J's—restaurants are hurting too, and have been since the start of the recession.

Anyway, one website has emerged to bridge the gap between wallet and work-related outings: Expense-a-Steak, an online service provided by Maloney & Porcelli, a Manhattan steakhouse I'm definitely, definitely putting on my list. At the site, just enter the total amount of a bill you wish you could charge to the office (mid-week margaritas? career-themed karaoke?), and Expense-a-Steak will provide you with a PDFs of fake receipts for more socially acceptable expenses, like cab far, copier fluid.

The Wall Street Journal's Real Time Economics blog kind of captured all of my shock, awe, and confusion in a single quote:

“Is it advertising? Is it PR?… Is it aiding and abetting in fraud? ... Dunno for sure. But… We LOVE this thing. It is brilliant.”

Further reading suggests that Expense-a-Steak is in fact an ad campaign, not fraud. Perhaps responding to the sagging economy, Maloney & Porcelli turned to NYC ad agency Walrus to revamp their image. This includes Expense-a-Shake, the receipts of which, a Walrus rep commented, are not supposed to be used to scam employers. The whole thing's just for kicks—and publicity.

And it's not just Expense-a-Shake. Maloney & Porcelli has been embracing the expense-recouping farce, even providing diners with fake takeout bags (fakeout bags?) from cheaper restaurants—so your boss won't see your leftovers in the fridge and realize you didn't just drop $200 on glue sticks... hypothetically. The restaurant even has a sign advertising "$5 Footlong Breadsticks" outside to fully embody the look.

I love viral ad campaigns, and I think Walrus did a great job of using the recession to its client's advantage. And now I'm hungry.

What do you think of this ad campaign? Have you ever had trouble charging expenses to your workplace?

PS: That's to Eugy for the tip!

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Comments (4)

Obviously the receipts would be recognized as fake pretty quickly, which would help the company avoid implications of fraud. But it is asking for trouble. I have seen quite a few people try to pass off expenses that weren't legitimate reimbursable expenses, they generally get a nice email from me saying "nice try".
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