Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Authenticity, Communication Strategy, Crap Campaigns In History, Creativity, Culture, Daily Fail, Fake Attitude, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Mischief
Just like great PR is never seen.
And great conspiracies, always feel plausible.
Great scams should never let you doubt their validity.
Yes, I know a while back I wrote that Bernie Madoff had said that success is as much down to the individuals greed as the scammers ability to appear legitimate … but fundamentally, if something is too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
Which is why the ad above is probably the criminal equivalent of infant school.
Let’s face it, you don’t call yourself ‘Mystery Shopping’ if you’re going to tell everyone what they’re getting and the likelihood that SONY would allow an external company to promote to all and sundry that you can play on their yet-to-be-released new gamer machine is – and I appreciate I may be being a bit cynical here – ABSOLUTELY ZERO!
On the bright side, it does show clients that as professionals in communication, adland is much better at manipulating people than criminals. Or at least amateur criminals.
So at least we have that going for us. Ahem.
Sorry gomysteryshopping.co.uk, you’re going to have to up your game.
Or at least not make such stupid, basic mistakes.
Wait for all the consultancies that will now approach criminals with proposals to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Now they’re definitely not ‘amateur’ criminals.
25 Comments so far
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It’s stupid isn’t it.
Comment by Bazza August 4, 2020 @ 7:40 amWho would fall for that?
Oh hang on, didn’t you once send gold to get a newly released mobile?
Is this right Robert?
Comment by George August 4, 2020 @ 7:46 amI seem to remember something about this too. Rob? Would you like to admit your shame?
Comment by Pete August 4, 2020 @ 7:57 amSadly it is. I wanted the black edition Motorola Razr phone and they said I could get it quickly. Worse, the signs it was a scam were blatant but I persisted with doing it, which highlights Bernie Madoff’s belief about people who are scammed [which I link to in the post] was right.
Don’t worry though, Jill never lets me forget it.
Damn.
Comment by Rob August 4, 2020 @ 8:06 amHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Comment by Bazza August 4, 2020 @ 8:13 amIdiot.
I have visions of the Microsoft Xbox development team all signing up.
Comment by Pete August 4, 2020 @ 8:20 amyou fucking gadget groupie twat.
Comment by andy@cynic August 4, 2020 @ 2:47 pmthank fuck we never let you look after the fucking finances. wed have been fucking enron.
This news has made me laugh so much.
Comment by DH August 4, 2020 @ 3:52 pmWould you like the new iPhone 16 Rob? If you send me some gold bullion I can get it for you.
You signed up didn’t you.
Comment by Bazza August 4, 2020 @ 7:44 amNo. And I have form for this sort of shit – as you kindly reminded me and everyone – so that is how badly they have done this.
Comment by Rob August 4, 2020 @ 8:09 amYour last paragraph is a Netflix show in the making.
Comment by George August 4, 2020 @ 7:47 amThis is the opening line.
Comment by Bazza August 4, 2020 @ 7:50 am“Great scams should never let you doubt their validity.”
Great to have you back Rob. I would love to know how many people fall for this even though, as you highlight, al the signs this is a scam is in plain sight.
Comment by Pete August 4, 2020 @ 7:57 amYep. We’ll never find out, but I bet there will be a lot … maybe young kids who shouldn’t know better and a few adults who most definitely should. Ha.
Comment by Rob August 4, 2020 @ 8:10 amThis is why marketers can learn so much from magicians and comedians (the funny ones, not consultancies).
Comment by John August 4, 2020 @ 8:49 am2009: https://tinyurl.com/jpv98of
Proof that if you wait long enough, even the rubbish I write on here can become sort-of correct.
Comment by Rob August 4, 2020 @ 9:17 amEvery 11 years.
Comment by Bazza August 4, 2020 @ 9:32 amMore often than Hayley’s comet.
I consider that a win.
Comment by Rob August 4, 2020 @ 9:44 amAre you referencing your cleaner Hayley’s favourite product or is demonstrating what you mean by “sort of correct”? #Halley
Comment by John August 4, 2020 @ 10:00 am‘Even a stopped clock is right twice a day’
Comment by Northern August 4, 2020 @ 12:03 pmkick the fucker with your condescending tone doddsy. kick him fucking hard.
Comment by andy@cynic August 4, 2020 @ 2:48 pmnot if its a digital clock and you pull the fucking batteries out it isnt.
Comment by andy@cynic August 4, 2020 @ 2:48 pmAndy FTW.
Comment by DH August 4, 2020 @ 3:51 pmWe don’t have a cleaner, but yeah … someone’s cleaner called Hayley. Obvs. Ahem.
Comment by Rob August 4, 2020 @ 4:45 pmDo you just buy another pad when the current one gets messy?
Comment by Billy Whizz August 4, 2020 @ 10:10 pm