Saw 5 Campaign: Sending creepy phone msgs.

JamesM · 10-17-2008, 02:12 PM

Man, who thought this was a good idea:

Police warn about 'Saw V' marketing ploy

Half a dozen call OPP detatchment to complain
October 17, 2008
SUNNY FREEMAN
STAFF REPORTER

A new viral marketing campaign for "Saw V" is scaring the wits out of some of its unsuspecting targets, according to OPP.

A website for the fifth film in the series of psychological horrors allows visitors to enter their name and a friend's in order to generate a creepy message that can be dialled to any home number.

The main characters in the films become involved in deadly games of chance. The phone messages play directly on that theme.

"Hello, (name). Do you want to play a game? You think it's over but the games have just begun. I'm here with your friend (friend's name). My work will continue in a way you never saw coming. You won't believe how it ends. Let the game begin," the automated message recites in a low grizzled voice.

These calls have genuinely frightened a number of citizens, including the mother of an intended target who called OPP to complain. Since Thanksgiving weekend, said Const. Tracey Bednarczyk, the Nottawasga detachment has received at least six calls from concerned citizens about the alarming messages.

But what the marketers are doing is not illegal, Bednarczyk said, which makes the cases harder to investigate. "There are no threats made, so it's more of a nuisance phone call, but obviously if they continue they could be harassing in nature, she said.

A disclaimer on the website reads, "The site is provided to give our users an interesting and fun forum in which they entertain their family, friends or colleagues... Please use your best judgment and be respectful of other individuals."

Bednarczyk said the OPP is alerting the public to the source of the calls but, "there's nothing criminal in the message."

"It's obviously a good promotional tactic," she added. "It's got everyone's attention."

OutcastTO · 10-17-2008, 02:14 PM

I've received 2 of these calls and the call display for mine was :416-659-8565.

If you try and call it back, it says it's out of service. What a terrible marketing campaign. I've never even seen any of the SAW movies

diablo · 10-17-2008, 02:18 PM

Link to send calls, please!

JamesM · 10-17-2008, 02:19 PM

Ha, I don't know! probably on their site.

BigLove · 10-17-2008, 02:20 PM

I just got one of these, a friend said he sent it through the saw website (which is a pain to navigate). His number came up on call display when it called.

Flashy_McFlash · 10-17-2008, 02:20 PM

They did the same thing for Transformers where Optimus would send you a message.

JamesM · 10-17-2008, 02:33 PM

ok, I caved and looked for it: http://saw5.varitalk.com/

nothing sent tho, yet!

diablo · 10-17-2008, 02:35 PM

Man...it's not very good with "non-standard" names!

TaCk OnE? · 10-17-2008, 02:38 PM

recycled.

snakes on a plane did it best anyway

Joe Seven · 10-17-2008, 03:50 PM

I just cranked about 5 people. It seems to work pretty well. Cool feature: you can specify what number will show up on the receivers caller id.

--[Zirca]-- · 10-17-2008, 03:54 PM

Yeah, it's pretty crap......and so obviously canned. People are dumb.

Agreed that Snake's on a Plane is way better (and the original).

This is the best viral campaign I've seen of late....

www.makemesuper.com

gasper · 10-17-2008, 04:25 PM

Anon sender, can send multiple times = abuse potential x1000

gasper · 10-17-2008, 04:32 PM

Tip: this really messes people up if you send to and from two people sitting next to each other in the same room.

SUNKIST · 10-17-2008, 05:33 PM

i cant figure out how to do the phone thing. it keeps asking for a registration thing then keeps sending me back to the same spot.

i suck at the internet.

SneakyPete · 10-17-2008, 05:50 PM

Saw this the other day, it's a little more elaborate.

http://www.yourotheryou.com/

sugar · 10-17-2008, 06:57 PM

My assistant did this to me today and it was hilarious.

Karim · 10-17-2008, 07:17 PM

The link appears to just lead to the main site now?

groovespinna · 10-17-2008, 07:39 PM

yeah, its gone. fuck. I was waiting for people to be off work and preferably high to fuck with them.

xtcfreak · 10-17-2008, 07:48 PM

edit.

Jay

gasper · 10-18-2008, 05:34 PM

It's been yanked, but you can listen to the recording here.

el presidente Highsteppa · 10-19-2008, 04:59 PM

The made a 5th movie? Wow. I thought the endless, pointless horror film sequels died back in the 80's or just went straight to DVD.

derek · 10-19-2008, 05:18 PM

about 10 years ago some idiot marketing manager sent promo packages for a movie about bombs, and designed the packing to make it look like a makeshift bomb. by the time they figured it was a bad idea the cops were already at cfto.

el presidente Highsteppa · 10-19-2008, 05:23 PM

I liked the promo campaign for the Johnny Depp movie Blow - they gave out little cocaine mirrors.

solacevip · 10-19-2008, 06:37 PM

Didn't they do the same thing with a phone call from Samuel L. Jackson for Snakes on a Plane?

gasper · 10-19-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solacevip

Didn't they do the same thing with a phone call from Samuel L. Jackson for Snakes on a Plane?

I don't think that campaign allowed senders to spoof the sender's phone number.

10-17-2008, 02:12 PM	#1
JamesM Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: toronto Posts: 4,250	Saw 5 Campaign: Sending creepy phone msgs. Man, who thought this was a good idea: Police warn about 'Saw V' marketing ploy Half a dozen call OPP detatchment to complain October 17, 2008 SUNNY FREEMAN STAFF REPORTER A new viral marketing campaign for "Saw V" is scaring the wits out of some of its unsuspecting targets, according to OPP. A website for the fifth film in the series of psychological horrors allows visitors to enter their name and a friend's in order to generate a creepy message that can be dialled to any home number. The main characters in the films become involved in deadly games of chance. The phone messages play directly on that theme. "Hello, (name). Do you want to play a game? You think it's over but the games have just begun. I'm here with your friend (friend's name). My work will continue in a way you never saw coming. You won't believe how it ends. Let the game begin," the automated message recites in a low grizzled voice. These calls have genuinely frightened a number of citizens, including the mother of an intended target who called OPP to complain. Since Thanksgiving weekend, said Const. Tracey Bednarczyk, the Nottawasga detachment has received at least six calls from concerned citizens about the alarming messages. But what the marketers are doing is not illegal, Bednarczyk said, which makes the cases harder to investigate. "There are no threats made, so it's more of a nuisance phone call, but obviously if they continue they could be harassing in nature, she said. A disclaimer on the website reads, "The site is provided to give our users an interesting and fun forum in which they entertain their family, friends or colleagues... Please use your best judgment and be respectful of other individuals." Bednarczyk said the OPP is alerting the public to the source of the calls but, "there's nothing criminal in the message." "It's obviously a good promotional tactic," she added. "It's got everyone's attention." Last edited by JamesM; 10-17-2008 at 02:15 PM.

10-17-2008, 02:14 PM	#2
OutcastTO Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: In a Raelian Spaceship Posts: 3,074	I've received 2 of these calls and the call display for mine was :416-659-8565. If you try and call it back, it says it's out of service. What a terrible marketing campaign. I've never even seen any of the SAW movies Last edited by OutcastTO; 10-17-2008 at 02:16 PM.

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10-17-2008, 02:18 PM	#3
diablo Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Rolling out some of that boganza shit Posts: 10,123	Link to send calls, please!

10-17-2008, 02:19 PM	#4
JamesM Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: toronto Posts: 4,250	Ha, I don't know! probably on their site.

10-17-2008, 02:20 PM	#5
BigLove Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 536	I just got one of these, a friend said he sent it through the saw website (which is a pain to navigate). His number came up on call display when it called.

10-17-2008, 02:20 PM	#6
Flashy_McFlash Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 51,857	They did the same thing for Transformers where Optimus would send you a message.

10-17-2008, 02:33 PM	#7
JamesM Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: toronto Posts: 4,250	ok, I caved and looked for it: http://saw5.varitalk.com/ nothing sent tho, yet!

10-17-2008, 02:35 PM	#8
diablo Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Rolling out some of that boganza shit Posts: 10,123	Man...it's not very good with "non-standard" names!

10-17-2008, 02:38 PM	#9
TaCk OnE? Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Handsome Boy Modeling School. Posts: 11,170	recycled. snakes on a plane did it best anyway

10-17-2008, 03:50 PM	#10
Joe Seven Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: pushing pixels Posts: 4,067	I just cranked about 5 people. It seems to work pretty well. Cool feature: you can specify what number will show up on the receivers caller id.

10-17-2008, 03:54 PM	#11
--[Zirca]-- Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,011	Yeah, it's pretty crap......and so obviously canned. People are dumb. Agreed that Snake's on a Plane is way better (and the original). This is the best viral campaign I've seen of late.... www.makemesuper.com

10-17-2008, 04:25 PM	#12
gasper Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: in a bubble i can't pop Posts: 7,343	Anon sender, can send multiple times = abuse potential x1000

10-17-2008, 04:32 PM	#13
gasper Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: in a bubble i can't pop Posts: 7,343	Tip: this really messes people up if you send to and from two people sitting next to each other in the same room.

10-17-2008, 05:33 PM	#14
SUNKIST Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: it's good to be a Sunkist Posts: 12,544	i cant figure out how to do the phone thing. it keeps asking for a registration thing then keeps sending me back to the same spot. i suck at the internet.

10-17-2008, 05:50 PM	#15
SneakyPete Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: I don't like my location. Posts: 32,407	Saw this the other day, it's a little more elaborate. http://www.yourotheryou.com/

10-17-2008, 06:57 PM	#16
sugar Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Bowing to the Master Locust of Control Posts: 18,893	My assistant did this to me today and it was hilarious.

10-17-2008, 07:17 PM	#17
Karim Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: :noitacoL Posts: 5,174	The link appears to just lead to the main site now?

10-17-2008, 07:39 PM	#18
groovespinna Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: unofficial TRIBE real estate rep. buy/sell something. Posts: 13,532	yeah, its gone. fuck. I was waiting for people to be off work and preferably high to fuck with them.

10-17-2008, 07:48 PM	#19
xtcfreak Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In between cant afford and have nothing! Posts: 3,464	edit. Jay

10-18-2008, 05:34 PM	#20
gasper Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: in a bubble i can't pop Posts: 7,343	It's been yanked, but you can listen to the recording here.

10-19-2008, 04:59 PM	#21
el presidente Highsteppa Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Carpe testes e yazz floote. Posts: 44,404	The made a 5th movie? Wow. I thought the endless, pointless horror film sequels died back in the 80's or just went straight to DVD.

10-19-2008, 05:18 PM	#22
derek Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: yonder Posts: 8,825	about 10 years ago some idiot marketing manager sent promo packages for a movie about bombs, and designed the packing to make it look like a makeshift bomb. by the time they figured it was a bad idea the cops were already at cfto.

10-19-2008, 05:23 PM	#23
el presidente Highsteppa Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Carpe testes e yazz floote. Posts: 44,404	I liked the promo campaign for the Johnny Depp movie Blow - they gave out little cocaine mirrors.

10-19-2008, 06:37 PM	#24
solacevip Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Yo Mamma! Posts: 4,299	Didn't they do the same thing with a phone call from Samuel L. Jackson for Snakes on a Plane?