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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.

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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.

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U Won't Fool Me
February 22, 2021
Breyer's wrap scam still going on, I got a check today for $2,850 saying to keep 850 and send the 2000 to the wrap company lol
Stephen
February 24, 2021
I am awaiting a check for $3500 from Davies Scott (910)408-2346 for NAS Energy drink car wrap. It's a google voice number.
momof 2
February 26, 2021
They are now doing Aquafina
Don't use your…
March 01, 2021
Just got a check from "Sara Ruth Freeny TTEE Thomas Schultz Survivors Trust FBO Thomas Quintin Schultz 178844 10th Ave NW, Shoreline Wa. 98177. Address doesn't exist. A "Fidelity Cash Management Account" Asked me to deposit, keep $700, and the rest is for expert fee. They won't send any information until I deposit the check, emphasizing that I could use an ATM machine. Sounds fishy so I searched and found this website.
ESKIMO3
March 02, 2021
I just got a check in the mail from Monster Energy Drink over $3,000. They have contacted me via emails and asked me if I recieved the check. My husband told me about this scam by the 2nd email I got from them, so I was prepared. I told them that I didn't recieve their check. We'll see if they drop it pester me about it. My husband wants to frame it.
Skylermarie
March 06, 2021
Just recieved one from Breyers ice cream smh , check for $1950.45. Idiots
Truth Seeker
March 12, 2021
Your article describes exactly the notification I received supposedly from a car wrap promotion from a well known coffee company you find in air ports, Thanks for the "heads up".
Chemika47
March 12, 2021
I just received one actually two checks to wrap my Vehicle it’s so sad when you don’t pay attention in your scam I won’t be I am so glad this is posted for people like me
Cameron
March 13, 2021
Have anyone received anything from dasani bottle water. I received a check from them and shredded it, cause I felt like it was to easy. I know it was a scam.
Mervin
September 06, 2021

In reply to by Cameron

Dasani water bottles, I received the fake check too. The check looked fake and my bank recommended not to deposit this check because it was a scam.
Olaf
September 21, 2021

In reply to by Mervin

Received the Dasani Water check. Bank in Ohio, mailed from SC, and from the Joint office of citizens complaints.
niny
March 14, 2021
Just received a weird text msg telling me to wrap my car with fitbit and get paid $600 a week. The text came from +1 567-303-8709 and it came with nine other phone numbers like a group of people. Very strange and I decided to check on chrome to see if it was a scam. The blood of Jesus has power!
WowT
March 17, 2021
The police department doesn’t care either. I know what it was but they said to throw it away. Now it I would have cashed it or put it in to my account they could charge me with money laundering, fraud, and a few others
Waterloo
March 20, 2021
I received a fake money order last week and yesterday I received a check from Charles Davies of Aquafina telling me to deposit the check immediately. No way! I know better not to be doing anything that looks to good. These 2 offers I received were done to drain my bank accounts and I refuse to let that happen, be careful!!
Troyg966
March 22, 2021
I received a check for 2950.69 told to deposit it, wait for it to clear, then keep my 1000, use the rest to pay the installer they send. I went to open a second account, not wanting them to have my bank info, but bank was too busy with relief checks last weekend. I went to a second bank, open a new account, told them about this check, they told me to research it, this is an old scam, they are right. I found this page, along with others. Phone number that tested me was 812 582 1637, check came from Texas, but bank was Northern Trust in Chicago, states the account was from University of Chicago... I thought maybe the college was handing marking for them? Wishful thinking, thats all....
Queen-of-Humor
March 22, 2021
I was taken by these scammers and my bank cleared the cashiers check, I made the deposit with the bank teller assisting me and went to wire the funds, the bank calls to tell me I owe them the money because the cashiers check was no good. I said the teller verified it and allowed me to withdraw from the account. The bank credit union closed my account because the teller didn't own up to her part in the transaction.
Mofodawg1
March 23, 2021
I just received a check in the mail today. Mine isn't a couple of thousands of dollars it's 4,800.00. My god the check looks real. It has all the safety features that a real check is supposed to have on it. He hasn't told me anything about sending part of it to anyone. Sure wish this wasn't a scam.
Chill
April 09, 2021
I just got a Nokia communications car wrap offer for 400/week, how do I know if it’s a scam off the bay?
BigbadDad
April 09, 2021
Just received a check for 3,850$.. they want me to deposit it and keep my 800$ a week and the rest is for specialist to wrap car.. the correspondence is supposedly with Kevin Ozan, an EXEC with McDonald’s worth millions.. I deliriously doubt he would be texting me about a car wrap out of the blue... CMON MAN!! SCAM ALL THE WAY!! I’m sure people fall for everyday.. I DOUBT many banks actually cash this check though.. maybe sometimes with a mobile deposit. Seems unlikely.. too good to be true IS a thing
Atizee
April 13, 2021
What about grapico soft drink has anyone received a text from this company
Reni3
April 13, 2021
Got an offer for Kombucha vinyl wrap. Same song and dance as other comments. Gonna send me check for $1960. I’ll deposit and keep $500 and pay the vinyl sticker guy who will put it on. So glad I checked cuz it’s a scam. I’m gonna see if I get a check because I even asked the guy if it was legit, he said yes. If I get the check I’m reporting it.
BarkerS
April 14, 2021
I had to text when I received check: 234-956-0761 Monster Energy Drink, signed Relationship Manager: Kelsie Rose
GrandmaL
April 16, 2021
I just got this scam also. Thanks I will not cash check.. I told them no once already.
Hrk
April 18, 2021
Thanks for enlightened us on these scammers, I just received a text about advertising for utz foods, that sells veggie chips and healthy foods. They will pay $700.00 a week for me to ride around with a decal on my car to advertise for them and promote their brand.
Zomby
April 29, 2021
I got my check today for $1900......I want so bad to cash it but I already know it’s a scam I’m just surprised that I actually got this far in the scam LOL. If there was a way I could separate them from their money I would do it in a heartbeat. But cashing the check does a lot of things, such as putting your bank account numbers on the back of that check as well as them already having your name and address to verify and exploit any inexperienced bank tellers out of your money. So now I have a Gmail address a woman’s name and a number they are texting me from but I don’t think there’s anything I can do. So in short I guess I will not be getting my car wrapped or sending any money to a “installer”. I was born at night but I was not born last night LOL. If these guys really want to do a successful scam they need to learn to write English a little bit better, there’s little things in there grammar that always does not add up.
diadrami
May 05, 2021
Did not hear such
Lone wolf
June 07, 2021
Does anyone know of a Fiji water Campaign going on? Offering to wrap vehicle and get paid to advertise. Is it a scam?
Welch Juice
July 13, 2021

In reply to by Lone wolf

Well I got one of these checks today, they contacted me months ago but I never thought anymore about it until today when we checked the mail and had a priority mail from a company called SPINX says it's out of Greenville SC and the bank on the money order is Welcome State bank in MN. I had NO clue what the check was for until I checked my email and they been blowing it up since yesterday (when the check actually got to my USPS). They say for me to keep $300 for myself the rest besides money to run around on they will tell me where to send it. I will be contacting the bank, the company it says it's from as well as Welch Juice tomorrow, just to make them aware of this. I'm not fool, and as much as I'd love for this to be real I know it's not.
TJ
June 25, 2021
Got a check with instructions called the bank the check was drawn on after checking the routing # online (routing # was correct) the bank asked me to verify the small #s above the date box and they said it was fraudulent. The drawing bank will always verify the information.
OnlyTimeWillTell
June 27, 2021
I just got the same exact message from monster energy. They told me they sent a check via FedEx along with a tracking number. Its scheduled to be delivered today. Of course I was going to do some digging around on the internet to see if it's a scam before depositing. Luckily I have a family member that's a bank manager bc I intend on taking it to her and hopefully trace it back to whoever sent it!!
Drmwalkon't us…
July 19, 2021
I was just offered a job from ethian water company to put a sticker on my car
Cstaub1
July 28, 2021
Thanks for this. I had a feeling that it was a scam even asked them is this a scam. Crazy the extent people will go to setup such a thing.
Laughing
August 01, 2021
The check just showed up. It’s a Waste Management check. It was sent priority mail from Ohio State Comprehensive Transplant Center Brain and Spine Hospital. Waiver of signature requested.
Me-Mo
August 02, 2021
I got a text from Aquafina Water. Same exact scam.
Set
August 13, 2021
Got one of these random texts to sign up for the Cadbury car wrap program, from a Richard Miles, manager. Gave name, address, make/model of car, and was promised a check by priority mail, and he would let me know when it was to arrive. Yesterday, inside my door was a yellow envelope, (not a priority mail envelope) had a priority slip glued on the envelope. Inside was letter with Cadbury header, instructions on how to deposit check, and to send copy of deposit slip, blanking out sensitive info, of course! And a check for $2,499.00. Tracking says it originated in Baxter IA, return address is Gold Coast Mall, in Ocean City MD, and check is from city of Sanford board of alcoholic beverage control! With a perforation along the bottom, where a letter of some sort was attached at one point! It's unreal! Haha. Security features check out though! But certainly given the texts I recieved yesterday, and the urgency in the letter, they really want me to deposit the check! If I were to deposit this, it'd bounce a mile high in a week! Letter is full of phone numbers, email addresses to send deposit slip, and to let them know what day is good for the wrap specialist to stop by, (yeah..) glad I saw everyone's stories here, to know better than to fall for it. But at least wasted the guys time, a little money, and kept one check out of being used on someone else! Just gonna hold on to all of it, as a souvenir. Haha. Oh and one "campaign" spelled "compaign" they could have done much better! Hahaha.
Cat People
August 13, 2021
We just received one from "Mountain Dew, SA" and a check for 2 thousand dollars. It's a scam and we're going to report it to the FTC and to our state Attorney General's Office. I realize this post is originally from 2016, and it's 2021, but apparently, this is still a thing.
Kissmejo
August 16, 2021
I just received notice that I was chosen for Lipton tea!! Was waiting on for them to come out and install the decal. Another scam!
Carolrbeck54
August 23, 2021
I was bombarded with so many all at once I knew something was amiss. Budweiser, Sierra Mist, Dasani Water, Horizon Organic Milk. I got the big check from Budweiser that was no good.. the Sierra Mist lady was chatting with me and got very demanding about me photocopying my photo ID but she wasn’t willing to tell e where she was located. I’m expecting a letter right away according to a text I got from Horizon.Organic milk. Are any of these things legitimate or all scams?
Anonymous
September 02, 2021
I got scammed by monster they sent me a 4,000 dollar check when it cleared I was in the whole for 3000 dollars. If you talk to your bank and use the scam as a loan you can make smaller payments instead of only having 30 days to pay the amount.
CharMon
September 03, 2021
It just happened to me now saying he is a rep from Poland Spring Water trying to send a $1500 check. It happened a few weeks ago pretending to be looking for an assistant he sent me a $2900 check and the bank held it for 2 weeks and bounced. Same person again ‘John Ambrose’ how disapointing.
R. Martin
September 08, 2021
When this arrived, I smelled a rat after reading it. I decided to shred it.
Griffin
September 20, 2021
My husband fell for it until the check for 5100.00 arrived and I started doing research. I thought it was a scam right off but needed to prove it to him. I contacted the Law firm who's name was on the check. They returned my call and requested copies of the check and phone#'s plus other messages. Hopefully they can do something to catch this jerk.