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Sony's fake fan letter banned
Consumer giant 'invents' Italian teenager...

By Mark Graham

Published: Wednesday 08 August 2001

Sony has received a slap on the wrist for trying to seduce new customers with a fake fan letter.

Using direct mailing to advertise its new Formula One PlayStation game, Sony pretended an Italian teenager penned the letter, which was accompanied by a ripped-out magazine article promoting the competition.

Advertising Standards Authority said the advertising was misleading because it appeared as though it was a personal hand written letter directed at recipients from a child.

It warned Sony not to use this form of false mailing again.

An excerpt from the letter read: "Hello I am Gian-Franco, I am a fourteen-year-old. I live in Italia&I hope you win the Playstation&My Brother says you can't do it. But he's just jealous. I took this page from this magazine-now we can show him who is boss. You can do it."