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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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FTC Staff
March 12, 2020

In reply to by mlowery

You can report to the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give goes into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations.

lcooper
March 12, 2020
I have received text from more than one place telling me I can make $450 weekly. The offer I got this week is from Halo Top Ice cream. Everything seemed fine until the last text I received was telling me the first check I would be receiving included $2000. To pay the wrap person. I immediately texted them back and told them I’m not interested. If they can not pay the person installing the sticker on my car directly then it is a scam!
JeepPat
March 12, 2020
I just received a check for $3890. This is an intuit turbo tax wrap scam. Letter says to deposit the check and go buy gift cards at Walmart and some other crazy stuff.
Scammed
March 15, 2020
Our son was just scammed from Colgate sent him a check for $3,800. This was a job application that he filled out from the UW he goes to. So thinking an emailed job through the school website was good. He never cashed the check the address on the envelope was a construction company.
2nd time scam sam
March 17, 2020
Yes this my 2nd time somebody sent me a fat checkIf you,re very despert person.it so easy to cash it .but it's 2good2 be true
Tneil1029
April 11, 2020

In reply to by 2nd time scam sam

I've seen plenty of the emails they also are sending a survey as an application to get your info if interested in the as being placed on the car. Survey monkey is the site I been getting lot of them kind emails. Also just random company that supposedly wants me to do the add. I received a fat check a year ago and tax time here's the second on its way
2nd time scam sam
March 17, 2020
Yes this my 2nd time somebody sent me a fat checkIf you,re very despert person.it so easy to cash it .but it's 2good2 be true
Don't use yode…
March 17, 2020
I got a check an letter, deposit in bank wait 2 days take out enough to pay the guy who is coming out to put decal on my truck, how do I know if this is real or scam
PS
March 21, 2020
Did anyone receive a picture of a wrapped car? The sticker looks very large even though they said would be small. Makes me suspicious!!!
EL
March 23, 2020
How can I report scamer? I have their names and phone number. At these moment I’m trying to dance with them to find more info
SweetHeart1
March 24, 2020
Now are any not scams because in my city i do see a newport car monster n a couple others?
Tneil1029
April 11, 2020

In reply to by SweetHeart1

Yes there are some legit ones, but if they are saying you take money out the check you deposit once it r clears and pay the vendor doing the wrap on your vehicle it's not legit. Any company wouldn't trust a newly hired employee with that much money they'd pay the vendor their own way and all you'd do is have it placed on your car, no cost to you
Drea Martin
March 24, 2020
Thank you for this, im usually a skeptical person, but I suppose I slipped up a bit.
Mhenry
March 26, 2020
I just got a check for 4750.00 and told to cash it asap and text once done. I appreciate everyone's warnings and posts about this scam, people like me fall for it sadly. So thank you. But my question now is what should I do with this check and letter? Can I just throw it away? Do I report it?
YBNORMAL69
March 27, 2020
THATS CRAZY
Barbara
March 27, 2020
I rec'd a text saying that I could make $500. A week for this car wrap so I responded to the text. Well I took the check to my bank and they kept refusing to deposit it. So now I am taking it to the bank that the check is written on to see if it is a scam. I kept the letter, envelope and the tracking receipt also. If this is a real scam then I am calling FBI in my area. This is not the first scam that has landed into my lap and the last ones were jailed for it too.
TotaLee Bummed
March 30, 2020
I just received this text in 2020 to wrap my car for $420. I have 3 cars and was gonna let them wrap all 3 for a wopping $1260 a week. I was hyped, told my wife about it, told my son who drives my 3rd car I would split that $420 with him and as I was putting in my 3ed vehicle my wife said, "this can't be real. You should check with Heiniken (the company whose advertisement was to be wrapped on my car) to see if it's real. " I did but there was nothing about it on their website so I was thinking 'Cool'. About an hour later I got a text from "Paul" telling me to send him the same info I already sent tp him. I tools him I already gave that info. Here tools me I needed to send it tp him for authentication and activation if i wanted to get started. I told him, I guess I won't then. Next morning, right before I asked Google, I got another offer to wrap my car with an energy drink for $600 a week. Upon asking Google, 'Has anyone heard about wrapping advertisement for $420 or $600'. I got this scam alert. Glad I didn't continue with 'Paul' but I'm not sure im gonna tell my wife she was right, she already told me she can't believe I gave them my name and number in the first place- yeah im not gonna tell her and just hope she forgets.
Jennifer Y
March 31, 2020
One more comment, what do u do if you get your car wrapped and it is a SCAM, what do u do??? From what I hear it DOES NOT easily come off
kat57
April 01, 2020
Another way to spot a car wrap scam: they tell you there is no schedule, and you just drive around like you normally would. A legitimate advertiser makes you log your hours and places you drove, and you have a quota of types of places and times you drive by them. If you don't make the quota, you don't get paid.
NAPA
April 02, 2020
I just recieved an offer from a company to do a wrap for NAPA AutoParts . I've never heard of such a thing. But they want me to deposit the check keep the first weeks pay and use the remainder to pay the wrap company. SCAM??
russell90
April 03, 2020
His name is Travis from xerox corporation anybody know him
Arlene Perkins
April 04, 2020
Arlene Perkins I just received a check in the mail for 2,200.n I was wondering how do I tell if it is legit it's for a monster energy ad
Dusty62
April 06, 2020
I get these and when the bank, tries to verify they always have a problem with their, check routing numbers and account numbers are off. Missing number. Ask Bud Light to send a money order, NO WE ONLY USE CHECKS. No wonder the saps can't get their money by robbing us of ours
mannyfigueras
April 09, 2020
I got a check for a car wrap to put Minute Maid on my car to deposit $3,950 into my bank, then sent the car detailer $2,300. It sounded too good that I was going to keep $1,650. Then they told me to go to Walmart and sent the money $2,300 to the car detailer. I went to Walmart and they told me it was a scam.
Verymad
April 10, 2020
My husband and I have been scammed by 6 different places this last one I got today and the other one same place 2 days ok but we lose any money cause called first three of them were cashier checks recent one is for Budweiser u also need to watch out for loan company cause one deposited money in our account and was no good bank closed our account these people are preying on this time always on the was that need and disabled shame on them and carma will get them back worse we went to police station and they as long as no money lost nothing they could do calling cashier check from Budweiser tomorrow cause is down always call and check if funds are good very p offed
Tneil1029
May 29, 2020
I haven't received the check yet but yes, card on international inc, email : Robertsmile0921 is the email communicating to me!
Irish
April 13, 2020
Yes I am in contact with a person now that just sent me a check for $2600.00 I haven't deposited it yet but I am supposed to today. They have only asked for a copy of the receipt with all my info blacked out before I text them a copy. I think they offered me $500 and the rest would go to pay for the wrap. It's supposed to be for MTN Dew. I want to help catch these creeps so if anyone that can legally try to trace them I will do what ever I need to do to help it happen if it can happen
Amanda.koeppel82
May 12, 2020
My sister is dealing with the recent suicide of her husband, the reemergence of cancer, and being unfairly fired from her job, as well as a pending lawsuit she has had to file against her former employers, to go along with this the current quarantine has made it impossible for her to get work, and in her desperation she fell victim to one of these slime balls. Is there any thing that can be done?
Brynda1969
April 14, 2020
This has happened to me several times, getting these offers. They also use the scam as a mystery shopper. I already do mystery shopping for a legit company so knew it was a SCAM!!!
Buckeye girl
April 14, 2020
Have you heard of IZZE sparkling juice? They just sent a check to me today for $1850. to have my car wrapped. I feel as if this is a scam! Do you have any information on whether this is light or not?
krissy
April 15, 2020
I just received a check for $2000! It’s supposedly from Buffalo Wild Wings to do a decal wrap on my car!! I’m sure this is a scam...
Don't EddieGse…
April 15, 2020
I just received one that says GET PAID TO DRIVE WITH NEOPOLATION ICE CREAM. They said they sent a check that I'm supposed to take out 500 and send the rest to the decal company and that they are going to pay me $500.00 a week to drive around with this logo. The guys name is a Mr Nelson Lorris.
Annie
April 15, 2020
I contacted frito lay due to a scam i fell for it cost me 3 thousand dollars and thats how far in the neg i am now and being on disability its made impossible to fix it so had hoped frito lay would help me sense i sent them everything but guess they wont only reply i got was thanking me for letting me know about the scam with their name lol gezzzz have a heart help a person out...
PLJ65n't use y…
April 16, 2020
Received a text message with a car wrap offer from the “Hershey Candy Company@$400 a week for simply driving routinely. 1st off.. Hershey is a Marrs Company . 2nd.. sounds to easy to be true. Scam
Strutnon
April 16, 2020
If in doubt look up the company that makes the product and call them and ask if they have a program that pays people to shrink wrap your car. They will tell u if it's a scam or not. Most likely it's a scam. I just got one for Rush Energy drink. It's a scam. I can also tell it's a scam because there are several spelling mistakes. No ligit company will have the mistakes I'..ve seen. So be smart.
DavidD747
April 18, 2020
Is Amp Energy Drink which is offering to car wrap your car for the driver to make $600 per month for real?
Tenn101
April 18, 2020
I just received a check for almost 5,000.00 saying they would pay me to wrap a decal on my car. Check looks real seemed legit. But to good to be true. The name on the envelope that came in the mail is Southern Company from Atlanta Georgia and the check is from citizens Bank in cheekowaga New York it all at first looked so real so people please be very very careful money that good and that easy isn't real.
Cliff red dog
April 19, 2020
I just received from her she’s candy company. To wrap car deal. They need jail time
Modelol
April 20, 2020
There is a car wrap scam ran by a guy named Bowen Green.Use caution with this one.
Denise
April 22, 2020
I was just working with someone I deposited check told them I’m having people look into this does the bank charge you to deposit check if it’s bad?
dreamer
April 25, 2020
Just received a check for $5000, they have not asked for anything from me yet, I suspected it was a scam but decided to play along as long as they asked nothing from me. Once the check arrived I called monster energy and the bank the check came from and they both said it’s a scam. I sent the check to the bank they said they will forward it to the FBI.so now I’m waiting to hear back from the scammer to find out how they expected to profit from this.
Hummerwatcher4
April 25, 2020
I received a text from Mc Cafe asking me to reply with the words (NEXT) for more information about advertise their sign on my car while I was going about my daily driving . Said I would b paid $500 a week for 3 months. And the sign would be easily removed and would not harm the paint on my bike or car. When I replied they asked for my full name and mailing address to get my first check processed quickly. I did not respond to it. They did not mention depositing the money at this point but I feel sure that would have been the next instructions. Thank you for posting these other experiences for others to see!!
Codedevannex
April 25, 2020
Did recived an text message to offer me the same potato chips wrap for lays company and FAGO INTRRNATIONAL THE elephone numbers was Wrap scam1 >714-276-1979 that one for layes potato chips for amount of $1929.99 Wrap scam 2>701-309-8559 this one for pepsico holdings with total of $3400 The both scammers have another phone base verification which is 434-288-0623 They do send those checks and asking in urging to cash them out or deposite them to my bank acount. Which i did ... Also i have contacted my chase bank to report this fraudulent checks when the both numbers start to ask to wire money to some bogus wrapping companies name . Peopel be aware ... I have posted their numbers so every one be a careful up there .
Don't jnj1922
May 08, 2020
Yes I got two checks from monster one from Dr. pepper now I got a little far from Häagen Dazs the Häagen-Dazs is pretty new so just be careful nobody give me nothing God bless y’all
Chuck
April 26, 2020
I just saw the request in my messages and decided to ask Google because it was to good to be true... and sure enough y'all verified it was., so thanks
Concerned Mom
May 01, 2020
My Daughter just got a check in the mail from one of those So Called Car wrap venders....My Husband said ask if they do W2 forms ....for taxes and is there withholding for car use...Not A Response Yet...But we Tried to tell her not to deposit or expect a real product or pay.....That's when I looked and saw the Fraud alert..Thanks For The Alerts ..
Mycashflow
May 12, 2020
My scammers name is Scott Fuller from Tucson Arizona. $400 a week for Worldlife Water sticker on my door. Received almost a $5,000 check written on Bank of America from Reliant Energy in Houston Texas. Worldlife Water is in Colorado where it is supposed to be clear crisp Mountain water. Their water comes from a filthy part of Georgia. Not Colorado. And Relant Energy is a gas company unaffiliated with Worldlife Water.
Less
May 05, 2020
Hi! I am receiving a mail from the company a drink, they send my a check it like 2,900 something,they tell me to deposit the money on my bank.. or they ask me if I did deposit allready but I said no not yet.. coz I was thinking is scam...I am not so sure if the check is original or a fake so I told them I don’t have a bank account..
Lidia
May 05, 2020
I just saw this job posting on governmentjobs.com. Job postings on here can be professional careers, for someone who is looking to "get their foot in the door" an add like this can be misleading. I wonder how I can report it.