Toyota "Terrorizes" Consumers with Creepy E-mail Campaign, Faces Lawsuit

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/step...eting-campaign

Last year, Amber Duick received a series of nine e-mails from a fictitious character dreamed up by the campaign (complete with a MySpace page). The character told Amber he was coming to stay at her house to avoid the cops, and even sent her a motel bill for $78.92. According to AdAge, Duick was so frightened that she slept with a machete and mace near her bed.

The last email Duick received included a video that notified her how she had been fooled, and explained that this was an effort to market the Matrix. The campaign, which targeted thousands of consumers, invited people to nominate their friends to be victims of the prank, which is how consumers' personal information was acquired.

Wow. Just wow. What a horrid idea!

[BringTheNoise]

They thought this would make money? How freaking stupid are they?

[Canuckistan]

The campaign reminds me of this Mad TV sketch.

[Darth Credence]

It reminds me of this Ctrl-Alt-Del comic.

[ALG]

As an Alternate Reality Gamer, I'm quite accustomed to getting threatening emails (mail and phone calls, too). I sometimes worry that I will actually be targeted by a criminal, and not know it.

So, I would have enjoyed this ad campaign, but I realize it isn't for everyone.

[Aimee Evilpixie]

Originally Posted by ALG

As an Alternate Reality Gamer, I'm quite accustomed to getting threatening emails (mail and phone calls, too). I sometimes worry that I will actually be targeted by a criminal, and not know it.

So, I would have enjoyed this ad campaign, but I realize it isn't for everyone.

People choose to participate in ARGs, though. These people were nominated by their friends, and rightfully ended up terrified.

[ALG]

True.

Also, how does this sell cars?

[DemonWolf]

Originally Posted by Aimee Evilpixie

People choose to participate in ARGs, though. These people were nominated by their friends, and rightfully ended up terrified.

I agree. While it might be fun to play this game while expecting it, I would not like to receive an unsolicited call like this. Especially since I have two small children in the house.

[Canuckistan]

Originally Posted by ALG

Also, how does this sell cars?

That's the million-dollar question, innit?

[Roadsterboy]

See, I was expecting some sort of lame attempt to tie into the Matrix films. Which wouldn't make much sense because of GM's heavy product placement in that film.

-RB

[DaGuyWitBluGlasses]

Originally Posted by ALG

True.

Also, how does this sell cars?

Well someone had to like the idea enough to send it to other people, the matrix would gain appeal with the nominator.

[Beejtronic]

The same thing happened in the UK when they started showing "Dexter." People could go online, and sign their friends up to get a text message that said something to the effect of, "Hello [Name], I'm coming to the UK sooner than you think. -Dexter." Then there was a url, where they could go online and see supposed news footage of a murder, with their name written on the wall in blood.

A lot of people were really upset about it, and put the blame on the mobile company. The mobile company basically told them they should ask around to their friends, because it wasn't them sending the messages. (They may have helped sponsor it, though.)

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by ALG

True.

Also, how does this sell cars?

The question is not "how," but "to whom." And the answer, apparently, is "people who think it's funny to scare the crap out of people who are supposedly their friends."

[Insensible Crier]

Originally Posted by Lainie

The question is not "how," but "to whom." And the answer, apparently, is "people who think it's funny to scare the crap out of people who are supposedly their friends."

I was getting more of a, "A car for creepy, online stalkers" vibe.

[DawnStorm]

Originally Posted by ALG

As an Alternate Reality Gamer, I'm quite accustomed to getting threatening emails (mail and phone calls, too). I sometimes worry that I will actually be targeted by a criminal, and not know it.

So, I would have enjoyed this ad campaign, but I realize it isn't for everyone.

Like others have said, you expect those "threats" and you know where they're from. If I gotten a threat in my e-mail from anybody, I'd probably go right to the cops and/or make sure my dogs' teeth were still nice and pointy.
The OP should filed under the Things You Shouldn't Have to Tell People thread.