Distorting data on progress bars?

I am currently doing some research on how data is sometimes distorted during visualization on progress bars (showing 70% instead of 50% etc). The research is focused on expanding the thesis of Chris Harrison and team (chrisharrison.net/projects/progressbars/ProgBarHarrison.pdf) that distorting the data shown on progress bars can lead to affecting the user's perception (either in good or bad way).

I would like to ask if you know about products (either web / desktop or mobile) where such distortions are being used to manipulate user's perception? The question that I asked is more about whether someone has already seen usage of any type of such distortions in real app or is it just a theoretical concept.

Many thanks for your help!