Name-dropping
Name dropping is the naming of well-known people or brands within a conversation, sales text, web text or other communication piece. The purpose of incorporating famous names into texts is to have their familiarity reflect positively on the sender of the message. One tries to derive status and authority for oneself from the reputation of the name cited.
Name-dropping is often perceived as negative, as when name-dropping is used to pretend to be better than reality. The sender often has no relationship with the person or institution in question, but mentions the name purely to move up the (social) ladder.