Have you seen ads promising easy money if you shrink-wrap your car — with ads for brands like Monster Energy, Red Bull, or Pepsi? The “company” behind the ads says all you have to do is deposit a check, use part of it to pay a specified shrink-wrap vendor, and drive around like you normally would. But don’t jump onto the bandwagon. It’s only easy money for the scammer who placed the ads.
How you spot the “offer”
You might see an ad on a job board or on social media. Or someone might send you a message — maybe because they saw your profile or resume on a job site.
How the scam works
The message says you’ll make a couple hundred bucks. But when the “company” sends you a check, it’s for much more than that — a couple thousand dollars. They tell you to deposit the check, keep part of it as your share, and wire the rest to another company that will wrap your car.
Weeks after you wire the money, the check bounces and your bank tells you it was a fake. The money you kept as “your share” disappears, and the money you wired is long gone — no getting it back. On top of that, you’re on the hook for paying your bank back for the fake check. And, of course, no one’s wrapping your car.
How you can tell it’s a scam
If you get a message urging you to deposit a check and wire money back, it’s a scam. Every time. No matter the story. And if this were a legitimate car wrap opportunity, wouldn’t the company directly pay the car-wrapping vendor, instead of asking you to do it?
Has this happened to you? File a complaint. Want to know more? Read our articles to learn how to spot variations on fake checks and money wiring scams.
It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.
The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.
In reply to The same thing happened to me by Kalece06
In reply to I got caught up in a scam by DRIFTWOOD
In reply to I got caught up in a scam by DRIFTWOOD
In reply to I got called at least 40 by Teresa
In reply to Anytime someone wants you to by StateCop
In reply to i wish i could get your help by styles
You can report fraud to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint.
You can give details about the person doing the fraud, and you don't have to give your personal information if you don't want to. The information goes into a secure database that only law enforcement agencies can see.
But if you do give your personal information, the FTC or other law enforcement agencies that see the report can contact you if they need more details.
In reply to i wish i could get your help by styles
Can you move? It seems like you are in a scary situation. Maybe buy a cheap phone so that you can reply to that policeman on here with your phone number so he can help. I am on here looking up car wrap scams. I received a $3000 check today. I would like to go to the address of the scammer where I am supposed to send the wire to and take a policeman just so i can see them get arrested. Scammers need to be stopped.
In reply to Anytime someone wants you to by StateCop
In reply to Got scammed of buying iTunes by AngryBird
You can call Apple Support at 1-800-275-2273 to ask about a refund, or talk to customer service at the store where you purchased the card.
In reply to Why does the FTC make it so by Wranny
When you file a complaint at FTC.gov/complaint, you can tell the story in your own words. You can also copy & paste emails into the box that lets you tell the story.
TOTAL SCAM JUST RECEIVED:
Attached is a sample of the packaging of car for your review. Estimated costs in automotive packaging are $3 100.00 (including the cost of installation, removal and logistics). So, upon receipt of your information and your management approval, you will receive a cheque for payment of $3,450 to cover the cost of packaging (installation and removal of the stickers) and the initial payment of $350 for the first week. The cheque of payment for the following weeks will be sent by post every week.
Upon receipt of the payment of the envelope decal on your car, deduct you $350 as initial payment and remit the funds to the balance by Wrap Company which will envelop the sticker on your vehicle. Subsequently, the date of your car wrap will be scheduled so that you can make your car available for packaging. We expect your email with the requested information to continue Nathan Dunn Gestionnaire de promotion Bling H2o Eau de source Suite 250, 251 Empire Ave St. John, NL A1C 3H9 Tél.: (705) 243 - 6693 Courrier électronique: H2o@ summeradvert.
In reply to TOTAL SCAM JUST RECEIVED: by FAKE BLING H2O…
In reply to Is this for real? by bencan2
In reply to A guy just text me out of by Jeyrob
In reply to I was offered $500 a week to by Daisy Madison
I just received a text about making $500 weekly for advertising Smirnoff. The text required me to reply IM INTERESTED. I did and received another text to reply IM INTERESTED to an email For more info, send "IM INTERESTED" to Kingefj . Email request my name, address, make model or car and scan copy of my driver licence. The copy of driver license don't sit well with me. I understand it is an alcoholic beverage company and they need to verify DOB. The contact via email with no contact # to ask or answer questions or concerns seem very fishy. I haven't replied the more I think about it the more it seems to good to be true. Anyone had this happen to them?
In reply to I was just recently contacted by Curious poster
It's possible that the “company” will send you a check. They tell you to deposit the check, keep part of it, and wire the rest to another company.
Long after you wire the money, the check will bounce and your bank will tell you it was a fake. The money you kept as “your share” will disappear from your account. The money you wired is gone and you can't get it back. You have to repay the bank for the fake check.
I JUST received a text from #1-231-468-6592 that reads: How would you like to make $350 by simply driving your car advertising. contact: thomaskarter349@ I replied to the email address and its for "Budweiser DRINK CO." That's not the name of the company! I already knew that! Just thought I would share this info!
I signed up for "Advertise on my car". To advertise DISH. Because I saw someone with the sign. They said it was a legitimate company. But now the company is telling me to get paid you need one sale. This was for a six month period of having the ad on my car. Has anyone else worked with advertise on my car. I would love some feedback Thanks
Received an email....I will copy and paste onto here if it will let me. Seemed/seems like a scam. Oh, and they did send the check that does look real. Thoughts? email below
Hello, How are you doing today . Am Glad to Inform you that a payment has been sent to you for the Apple® Service Advertisement Car Advertisement and will be deliver today via USPS Carrier Service: You can track it on www.USPS. com this is not Ups but USPS Below is the transaction Details: Tracking Number: 9405501699320xxxxxxxxx Check of $1980.40 has been sent to you via UPS. On receiving the Check, You are instructed to Cash/Deposit the payment at your Bank you may also deposit via Mobile.
Do note that we deal with banks ONLY. Reason is that we make monthly reports of our transactions and financial activities to the government through the bank, therefore all records are required and the fund can be released to you same day or within 24hrs as the issuer bank instructed. Once the funds are available, you are to deduct your first weekly compensation which is $500 for flying the Logo, Payment for subsequent weeks will be mailed out to you every week. The decal company has graphic artists nationwide, A graphic artist within your locality will be delegated to visit your residence to get the installation done.
The balance of $1450 should be transferred to the decal company for installation processing. Once the receipt confirmation of funds is made, the wrap installer will visit you with necessary materials to get the job started. you are to deduct $500 for your weekly pay and $30 for GAS and send the The balance of $1450 through Money gram Transfer to the detailer who will come and wrap the car with the company advertisment. Below is the information of the decal company's agent:
It is imperative the transfer be done as soon as the funds is made available. Receiver's Name : James Adewale City :- Aurora State :- IL Zip code:- 60504 On completion of the transfer, do email or text the information below: Name and address of Sender Total Amount sent Transfer Charges Money gram Reference Number Once you complete the transfer, email the details as requested above, and state when it will be convenient for you to have the decal specialist come to your house to wrap the car. This should not take long, so you might choose to watch them do it. We anticipate your response. Commission payment: You will also receive commission at the end of each month based on increase in sales in your area. Also Check Your Email Every Day and text message To Get Updated. We'll appreciate your team building exercises and excursions, a career plan within these organization. Best Regards,
Right now I have someone who sent me a check for $2500 for a car wrap ad.. And he keeps insisting that I deposit this check keep $300 and send the remaining via Walmart transfer. I'm not depositing the check but I'm going along to get more information This is the number he /she is texting from 321-252-9837.. Please do not fall for this..
In reply to Right now I have someone who by Islandgirl951
In reply to Rockstar energy drink wraps by working mom
Like this blog says at the top - scammers often use the name of a well known company to get your attention. They say you'll make a couple hundred dollars, but really, you end up with bounced check fees and a big headache. It's good that you spotted the fake and didn't cash the check.
In reply to Budweiser wrap is it fake by Db73
In reply to I keep getting text messages by Jerry Indiana
It’s illegal for a company to send you a text message if it doesn’t have your permission, barring a few exceptions. If you get a random text message from a number you don’t recognize that says you won something or asks you to confirm some personal information, don’t text back or click on links. Report it to your provider at 7726 (SPAM) and to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or 1-888-382-1222.
For more information, please see the FTC blog post, Stopping unwanted phone calls and text messages.
In reply to ok,yes I have received this by incslut
If you got a bad check from a scammer, you could ask the bank if they need to keep it, or return it to you. You don't need to keep talking or writing to the scammer who sent you a bad check.
The details you have will be useful in a complaint. Please report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
Pagination