This is a page three story and an example of how Germans tend to be naive.
Here in the state of Hessen....we have the major city of Giessen (a university town). About a week ago....some leaflets started to show up around Giessen....noting that the regional bus and tram service was going to offer 'FREE' public transportation for nine days.
The leaflet? Well....it looks like an official leaflet that the public transportation system would put out. The problem is....it's FAKE.
Folks around Giessen actually looked at the leaflet and believed it. Folks found the leaflet in public places....in their mailboxes....etc.
The fact that none of this was advertised by the city, the bus service, or via public TV/radio? Well....you would think that thought would have come up. But leaflet was done pretty professional and had the various logos of the city, utilities, the local university, and the innovation district of Marktquarter.
Affecting folks? Well...a fair number of folks have tried riding the buses and railway service, and discovered when the audit folks came up....that there is no free ride, and are facing a 60-Euro fine. Whether or not the city will dismiss the fines or not.....is not clear (they usually don't).
Who made it? Unknown. It has to be a pretty good graphic artist, with a sense of humor. My guess is that its someone connected to the university.
The thing is....it readily proves that Germans are fully capable of falling for fake news or fake advertising.
A one of a kind? No....I have doubts. Whoever did this....has figured out that they have an enormous amount of capability and could raise more doubts with the public.
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