Hit internet sci-fi trailer was OneKind of fiction

A VIRAL internet campaign had sci-fi buffs on the edge of their seats waiting for the latest alien invasion blockbuster to be launched on 10/10/10.

Using the cryptic message "They're Here" and featuring Star Wars actor Angus MacInnes, the trailer generated thousands of internet hits and sparked a massive online debate.

• Click here to watch the film

However, The Scotsman can reveal that the trailer is actually an elaborate hoax devised by a Scottish-based animal charity.

Advocates for Animals created the teaser viral to highlight its rebranding which sees the charity renamed as One Kind from today.

The small Edinburgh-based team behind the campaign were taken aback by the global response which saw their fake movie website inundated with 6,500 enquiries.

Even the online clock counting down to 10/10/10 received 650 subscriptions.

A leading online movie magazine. Movie Viral.com, even interviewed the fake film's fictional director, Paul Geist.

Sci-fi fans also "translated" fake alien text from the trailer to try to decipher the mystery.

The charity was unapologetic about stringing along sci-fi movie fans to publicise its relaunch.

Chief executive Fiona Ogg said: "We hope they will see the funny side.

"We never expected to get such a large audience for these trailers."