Filed under: Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Comment, Cunning, Devious Strategy, EvilGenius, Fake Attitude
I am doing a project about land ownership.
I know that sounds horrifically boring, but it isn’t.
Anyway, as part of my rabbit hole reading and research, I came across one of those sites where you can buy ‘titles’ … like Lord and Lady of the Manor.
And then I saw this …
Have you read it?
No, I don’t mean the bollocks testimonial, I mean the line near the top.
Yes, the one that basically says, ‘these testimonials may all be a pile of utter bullshit’.
Amazing eh?
I have to admit, I love their use of the word ‘illustrative’ … it’s as if they’re trying to say they want to add flair to their product story rather than just admit they’re writing lies.
Let’s face it, if you have to make up your ‘references’, you don’t have any references.
Believe it or not, the ad industry is more closely controlled than the newspaper industry … and while the owners of this company openly admit their references are illustrative rather than real, it still highlights how someone who wants to fuck with the system can fuck with it, regardless how closely regulated people may think it is.
But then even that doesn’t matter, because as I wrote in my post about Bernie Madoff, the people who fall for these scams are often – but not always, especially if they’re the elderly – complicit in some way.
Because as Bernie once said …
“I succeeded because when you offer people a deal that’s too good to be true, they never want to look too hard into the facts.
They say it’s because of trust. I say it’s because of greed.”
33 Comments
Is the land project working out how much land you own?
Comment by Bazza August 12, 2020 @ 7:39 amnailed it.
Comment by andy@cynic August 12, 2020 @ 12:55 pmAnd you already proved the message of this post was true when you went gold to buy a pre-release mobile phone like the sad gadget nerd you are.
Comment by Bazza August 12, 2020 @ 7:40 am🔥
Comment by Pete August 12, 2020 @ 7:51 amYes yes. We covered this recently thank you very much. Ha.
Comment by Rob August 12, 2020 @ 8:16 amAs you’ve brought it up again, I have to seek clarification. You actually sent gold?
Comment by John August 12, 2020 @ 9:40 amI’m not as well versed in the criminal world as you Rob, but I am pretty certain their choice of words “for illustration purposes only” is designed to disguise the truth while protecting them from future prosecution. I did read somewhere that the craft of the conman is to use language that appeals to the victims greed while allowing them loopholes from the law. It seems this is doing that too.
Comment by Pete August 12, 2020 @ 7:53 amAlso known as the research company debrief strategy.
Comment by George August 12, 2020 @ 8:06 amOoooooh …
You’re right though. It’s also the ‘LinkedIn professional achievements’ write-up strategy. It’s why I love pinpointing my questions on the statements said – doesn’t take long to see where there has been some attempts at distraction/artistic licence added to their findings or claims.
One of my favourites was a candidate that told me he had worked for Branson on a big project. When I told them that I vaguely knew him (because of you George) the candidate immediately backtracked from working WITH him to working on a project for Virgin.
They didn’t get the job.
Comment by Rob August 12, 2020 @ 8:22 amWell versed in the criminal world? Is this some slur against my Nottingham roots? Cheeky sod. But either way you make a good point. Seems you’re more well versed in the criminal fraternity than either of us thought.
Comment by Rob August 12, 2020 @ 8:18 amNot your Nottingham roots, I mean literally your ability to connect to people in the criminal word for insights and viewpoints. I’m not calling you a criminal, just some of your associations. You also know a large number of billionaires. Your network of extremes is the most incredible I’ve ever known.
Comment by Pete August 12, 2020 @ 8:25 am+ 1
Comment by George August 12, 2020 @ 8:39 amCongratulations on your excellent bank handed compliment. Hahahaha.
Comment by Rob August 12, 2020 @ 8:51 amGood work Pete.
Comment by Bazza August 12, 2020 @ 9:38 amSelling titles is the distant cousin of selling star ownership.
Comment by George August 12, 2020 @ 8:07 amHahahaha. I bought those for my Mum and Dad.
Comment by Rob August 12, 2020 @ 8:19 amDidn’t require me to send gold to pay for them though.
Christ, I’m a conman’s dream.
You idiot.
Comment by Bazza August 12, 2020 @ 9:38 amcampbell. you prize twat.
Comment by andy@cynic August 12, 2020 @ 12:54 pmThe brazenness is impressive.
Comment by George August 12, 2020 @ 8:08 amIsn’t a lot of advertising illustrative only?
Comment by John August 12, 2020 @ 9:43 amillustrating 95% of the industry is fucked?
Comment by andy@cynic August 12, 2020 @ 12:53 pmRadox shower gel packaging says 100% nature inspire ingredients. Basically, there could be anything in. Ammonia because they’re so inspired by natural, fresh wee. Utter bollocks. Its a bit like ‘serving suggestions’ on food ads because no one can ever make the product look like this.
Comment by Northern August 12, 2020 @ 10:39 amI’m convinced TBWA are working on new disruption stuff about actually telling the truth in a way people find interesting, and for once it may not be utter twaddle.
why the fuck do you think theyre doing that? have you seen the shit theyre putting out these days?
Comment by andy@cynic August 12, 2020 @ 12:52 pmLapse of judgement there, forgive me, I’m getting divorced, I’m not all there obviously
Comment by Northern August 12, 2020 @ 2:04 pmI’m so sorry to hear this Andrew.
Comment by George August 12, 2020 @ 2:10 pmIts a drop in the ocean next to what some people are living though right now, but thankyou
Comment by Northern August 12, 2020 @ 3:29 pmOh man, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you are doing OK and while I am sure you don’t need the support of someone you’ve only met once – if you do need someone to just talk to or have them just listen, I’m here.
Big hugs mate.
Comment by Rob August 12, 2020 @ 3:53 pmNorthern. 👊🏻
Comment by DH August 12, 2020 @ 4:11 pmthats fucking shit northern. look after yourself lad and know the fucked up messy painful shit stops being so crap over time. i ended up forgetting how bollocks it was and did it all over again like a prick.
Comment by andy@cynic August 12, 2020 @ 5:36 pmLast line is killer.
Comment by Billy Whizz August 12, 2020 @ 6:36 pmOh Andrew.
Comment by George August 12, 2020 @ 6:47 pmyouve spent cash on bullshit phones and bollocks stars. youve bought a fucking fake title havent you campbell. or should i call you sir twatty campbell.
Comment by andy@cynic August 12, 2020 @ 12:57 pm100% certainty.
Comment by DH August 12, 2020 @ 4:11 pm