"April Fools' Day: Beware of Corporate Pranks and Scams"
April Fools' Day presents an opportunity for companies to connect with customers through humor, but poorly executed pranks can backfire and damage brand image. Examples include Tesla's "bankruptcy" joke causing a stock drop, Volkswagen's fake name change leading to confusion, and Google's Mic Drop feature causing unintended email disruptions. While some pranks, like Taco Bell's "Taco Liberty Bell" and Richard Branson's UFO balloon, have generated positive publicity, companies should carefully consider the potential impact of their April Fools' Day gags.