Insurers troubled by Toyota campaign which "incite fraud".

Something strange happens at this time of year. People begin to take ads literally.

Seems that not everyone is liking the new Toyota campaign where people are shown doing all sorts of silly & elaborate things in order to get rid of their old car. They're killing the cars off by pushing them off rooftop parkings, cutting them in half with the help of the snowplow guy, chainsawing down trees next to it which will fall and crush the car just so.

Daniel Johnston, executive director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts, said the only conceivable purpose for destroying your existing car, rather than simply trading it in, would be to collect insurance money to pay for a new car.
"Every scene that's described in the ads is a crime," Johnston said.

at Boston.com.

Toyota spokeswoman Cindy Knight told the Globe the car maker would review any letters of protest it has received. She said it was possible the company could modify the ads or add a disclaimer, but she emphasized that the spots were meant to be humorous, not to be taken literally.
"The intent was to sell new cars, not to convince people to destroy their old cars," Knight said. "It's just trying to be a little edgier than Toyota usually is."

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tod.brody's picture

The Hamburglar is a criminal too. How shocking, insurance people with no sense of humor. Next they'll be saying that Santa Claus is encouraging people to break into homes.

ost.macka's picture

Daniel Johnston needs to get one of those Sprint Crime Deterrent Phones.

I'd embed the spot if I knew how. I tried but obviously I'm computer illiterate. But here it is in your Super Bowl Archives.

Sprint / Nextel - Crime Deterrent (2006) :30 (USA)

(I've edited this comment so many times.  I'm so embarrassed) 

tod.brody's picture

And now that I've been watching some more ads here, I'm surprised that Mr. Johnston didn't freak out about the 2004 Corvette commercial:

Chevy / Chevrolet Corvette - A Boy's Dream (2004) 0:60 (USA)

Of course it did have that disclaimer about being a dream, and the Toyota spots are so obviously reality!  :-)

Dabitch's picture

I have a feeling the Banned ads topic will amuse you. The Chevy corvette ad was withdrawn after complaints.

Consumer safety groups protested saying "This ad is certainly among the most dangerous, anti-safety messages to be aired on national television in recent years"
tod.brody's picture

Oh my, I'm shocked. I can't wait to go through the banned ads. I'm sure there are many which will amuse me to no end.

I hate playing catch-up. I wish I had been actively spending time here years ago. :-)

tod.brody's picture

I've only been through five pages of the banned ads at this point, and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I feel like I've been through a time warp and I'm back with the Puritans.