Online posers, are secretly lurking within the underbelly of today’s advertising and marketing initiatives.

Here is an example.

Recently, I received an invitation to join the American Association of Retired People (above). 

Personal side note:

I am sorry, but with the shape of American business today, despite me being a (young) half century old, retirement is not an option—at least for the future. Stop teasing me!

To make things worse, following a little digging and fact-checking, I found that the pleasant looking middle-aged male featured on the e-mail invitation was a–(long pause of disappointment) stock photography model.

This hired mercenary has exceeded in making a career out of playing a two-dimensional mannequin. One minute, he is hawking AARP memberships, the next minute he is pushing anti-itch cream, sparkling ‘light’ chardonnay, or a new retirement community. 

To the casual observer, this meat puppet (we’ll call him Bob), may induce memories of a close friend or acquaintances. 

“Wait, I think that I know this person.”  

How about, “He looks just like me, and if he has decided to buy used reconditioned bungie-jumping equipment, why can’t I?”

Consumers, wake up! Your new friend Bob is a fraud!  

He is leading a highly questionable lifestyle–under a multitude of identities. One minute he is stock photo 1657611 “close-up of a happy age man,” and the next minute– stock photo 1559302 “close-up of the senior business man with his colleagues standing in a line behind him.”

But Wait!

Here is Bob with what appears to be his regular modeling accomplice, “white, middle-aged blonde woman, with really white teeth (Suzie).” Today Bob and Susie are hawking plastic coffee cartridges.

There’s more!

Look who is on my latest bank statement (below). Bob and Suzie, welcome! It’s a pleasure to see you again. Thanks for keeping an eye on my finances. Care for a cup of joe? How is your retirement going?

So here’s a little game for really rainy days.
Please allow me to demonstrate.

The next time you receive a piece of marketing propaganda (see my John Hancock newsletter, below)–

Go to a stock photography site.
I prefer: www.thinkstock.com. 

Type in a couple of keywords into the search window–I entered middle-aged couple–and…

Voilà! 

Look who I have found! My new friends, John and Sally!

Working on a marketing program to sell a new line of frozen burritos, umbrella hats or excer-sandals?  

You might want to contact my good friends, Bob and Suzie or John and Sally. These static plant stands will sell anything! 

– Doug.