Step Right Up
Discovery
December 3, 2007
From an email message sent from humanresources@whysoserious.com, Whysoserious.com/steprightup was found.
The webpage featured a stuffed monkey with an exposed stomach, as well as a timer which counted down to 12pm EST, December 4.
Assignment
December 4, 2007
When the timer ended, a high-striker carnival game (with stuffed animal prizes) was revealed. A note advised participants to search out an object at six different addresses around the country, while warning them not to call the locations.
I've left a very special treat at each location below, held under the name Robin Banks. Only one per location, first come, first served. Keep a low profile.
Do NOT call these locations, that's not part of the plan. Time for what you've been waiting for. 1-2-3 Go!
When an animal disappeared, more would appear, totalling 22 stuffed animals. While the activity was in progress, site visitors could click on the hammer pad of the high-striker and then a lit bulb, and the site would load an image of the fulfilled location.
Locations
The package
The "treat" was a cake with a phone number written on it in decorative icing. When calling the number, a phone inside the cake rang. After digging into the cake, conspirators found an evidence bag with a cell phone, Joker card, cell phone charger, and a note:
Let's hope your fellow goons come through as well as you. Once all the layers are in place, you'll all get your just desserts. I'm a man of my word.
- Video:
Digging into the cake. Runtime: 00:27
Upon calling the number on the note, a message was automatically played:
A text message was also received on the phone from humanresources@whysoserious.com:
For some reason, several celebrities and bloggers were also sent cakes with cell phones inside, with a note to call an 800 number. An automated voice told them to show up at one of the IMAX locations with a press pass to attend the screening.
Participants who discovered these phone numbers and attempted to call them after they had been already used would be welcomed with clown music:
Reward
Once all of the cakes were located, the bell on the high-striker could be rung by clicking on it, providing a link to Whysoserious.com/steprightup/pairofjokers.
