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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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Joni317
October 15, 2020
I recieved a phone message regarding an offer to have my car wrapped for $500 per week for 3 months with an ad for Starbucks. I'm in dire straits like a lot of Americans currently, and stupidly filled out the form and hit send before my brain engaged and I realized it was most likely a fishing scam. Luckily, all I'd given was my name, address, and year of car make. Is there any chance the offer was legitimate?
Molden
October 19, 2020
Just got this. 10/19/2020. There at it again. Bud light.
NekoKalani
October 21, 2020
Just got one for Fresca, the check for $1985 has no markings of being legit. Checked routing number, it's not found to any bank. Even the verbiage screams fake. It also came from a different location than it claims it did and when you search anything regarding it-nothing comes up or it's mismatching info. Just be aware and smart about things. If it seems too good to be true, it is!
MelodieSW
October 28, 2020
I received a text message from someone claiming to work for Aquafina and wanting to wrap my vehicle with advertisements. I thought it was legitimate, until the person started sending me long text messages, and mentioning a large check that will be delivered to me in a few days, along with other info listed on this site regarding fraud indicators present in so called "part time advertising" campaign with company. Name given to me and phone number of fraudster is: Mr. Tony Gray, Ph# 262-236-6226.
MICH
October 31, 2020
I HAD ONE FROM PEPSI AND THEY SENT CHECK. THEY WERE VERY DEPANDING ABOUT ME DEPOSITING THE CHECK. I CALLED THE BACK AND THEY SHE TRANSFERED ME TO SOME ONE ELSE. SHE ASKED FOR ALL THE INFO AND FOR ME TO SEND A COPY OF THE CHECK TO HER. IT SOUNDED TO GOOD TO BE TRUE SO I WENT WITH MY GUT AND CALLED
Didn't fall for it
November 04, 2020
My check arrived yesterday with the amount of $2,890 and was told to text a number when I received the check and I should deposit the check and keep $800 for myself and send $2000 to person who will then come and wrap my car. I had friend that lost money a similar way. So when I saw the check instantly I knew. Thank God I knew.
LC
November 05, 2020
Same thing just happen to me, I looked at the check, viewed the spelling, checked the bank out, the address is just a Mall, nothing specific. Text them back and let them know I was reporting this activity.
txstclairs
November 09, 2020
I just got a check in the mail for $2,950.00 from AMP Energy Drink!! The phone number I am supposed to text a copy of my deposit slip to is a Google #, so no way there's a physical address. The check is on a bank in Sunrise, FL and the check and letter was fed ex'd from Dallas!! The letter that came with the check has the worst English! It's not even close to being literate! Yeah, I've gotten these before. Hope everyone who gets one of these checks it out thoroughly.
May
November 10, 2020
Today a person named Malena Mann, supposedly the manager of Dr. Pepper, sent me a message saying that he is going to send me a check for $ 2499 and to deposit it, deduct $ 400 and send the rest to the decal specialist, be careful It is a scam or organized robbery I would say.
Not Today
November 19, 2020
This is the message I got. Decided to check it out and found this info. Sounded too good to be true. HELLO,Drive your car/truck with our company logo by the doorside OR BACK WINDOW and earn 500.00 weekly.CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO READ MORE AND APPLY.... zfrmz. com/ p30Xy n2C2Gs HfglbBAOQ
Greg Terrones
November 12, 2020
Yup, this happened to me 3 wks ago wth C4 energy drink by coke but coke wasnt the ones who did it. Check came for 2,000 , i put it in my bank got cash, now im paying bank back and now im behind on rent. Go figure...i was scamped.
Greg Terrones
November 12, 2020
Hello, DASANI WATER will like to put a small sticker on your BIKE/CAR/TRU=CK door & pay's you $500 weekly, click.....this was todays
Remmik
November 12, 2020
It’s a SCAM people. Why are there so many still asking if it’s legit? Are you all not reading all the stories here saying how much of a scam this is? And please don’t think you can “reverse” the scam. It’s a bogus check every time and you will be in the hook for it. Think about it. It’s just like to printing a bogus check and taking to a check cashing place and then lying saying that JT was sent to you in the mail. Do yo think this is possible to get away with? No, they will not only hold you responsible for any funds you took from that check and can even “try” to prosecute you. If you deposite this check in you own bank account abd your bacon releases some funds right away. You will be on the hook for those funds when the check bounces and they will open an investigation against you even though you are the one getting scammed. Please report them and turn the check into the bank. No legit company is going to contact you out of the blue for such easy money. I know times are tough (especially right now) and more people will be desperate to try this scam but please don’t.
JRea1954
November 17, 2020
What about someone who says they are going to pay you $500 a week if you will put a sticker advertisement on your car from jacquelineray193?
Ozselz
November 12, 2020
This is the one I got Busch® Beer CAR WRAP ADVERTISEMENT CAMPAIGN Welcome to the Anheuser-Busch Beer advertisement program, we received your pieces of information. A detailer who will install the decals on your vehicle has been allocated and your payment will be scheduled. You will, therefore, receive your payment alongside the money that will be paid to the national car detailer. When you get the payment, you will take out your first week pay of $400 and give the rest to the detailer, this is to afford mutual relationship between you and the detailer. A paycheck of ($1,980) will be mailed to you, out of which you will take out your first week's pay of ($400) and send the rest to the detailer Via Cash App, Venmo or Zelle, being payment for the installation and removal of the decals after the program. We need you to confirm the following so that the account department can issue out your payment; How long do you intend to carry the advertisement on your car? One(1) month, two(2) months or three(3) months? Do you use your car everyday? Also reconfirm your name and address as it should be on the check and your complete mailing address for your payments.
Cindy
November 13, 2020
I got sent a bogus check so just remember if they are not collecting info like w2 or w4 to report income on you for tax purposes... then they are scammers!!!!!
dritzy
November 13, 2020
I just received for purell
Boathouse309
November 14, 2020
I just received a text message and email from the Anheuser Busch Car Wrap Advertisement Campaign and then a follow up email. I replied that I am not interested as this is a scam. Thanks for all the great information - almost fell for it.
ShadowMaster
November 16, 2020
I received the following fro (352) 232-0347: Hi, Could you allow BANG® ENERGY DRINK to put a 15 inches by 12 inches" sticker on your CAR/TRUCK /bike and get 400 Dollars weekly? if you're interested click angel lakeith3 .wixsite.c for more information, hanks.
Bebe
November 16, 2020
Block this number 1-330-987-5688. Got a text about Mountain Dew stick make $500 for a driving advertisement. I was one of 10 text. Scam!
Rose
November 16, 2020
I’m being texted from a number +1 (915) 245-4519 saying all of what y’all posted. I didn’t accept, I told them not interested
missie
November 16, 2020
DONT FALL FOR THE BANG ENERGY DRINK CAMPAIGN AS WELL!!.. ITS A SCAM!!..
C.J.
November 17, 2020
I got a real looking check for McAfee for a car wrap for $3,750 from PNC bank and I wish it was real! A cashier's check has to be paid with money because I did call PNC Bank. of course they can't give me any information. With me cashing it they would have my banking information. I did say to keep $600. for myself with $50 in gas and $50 shipping fees. Then a number to call to have someone come out and wrap my car. It sounded too good to be true...I will be giving it to the police
Don't use your…
November 18, 2020
I have 3 of these checks on my table right now one from welding Co, one from budweiser and the latest one from petco ...now the first 2 checks didn't look too real according to the company but Petco does it looks like what I would get from my credit union ..so I'm going to bank today to see if I'm working or not I'm showing everything!
they almost got me
November 19, 2020
1 almost fell for it : they sent me a check for 4800.00 dlls. very tempting .. but too good to be true.
Choptank
November 23, 2020
Just received an offer from Cadbury for $400 a week to skin my Jaguar. Going to correspond with Jeremy Fernandez@ until I get enough information to report and nail him.
Jessica Benson
November 19, 2020
I recently received a text message about sponsoring Pureboost Energy Drink & I’m starting to wonder if it’s a real thing.
Clh555
November 19, 2020
Just got a check for $4500. My share is supposedly $600. Does it really take $3900 to wrap my car? Hahaha... thanks to everyone for all the info. I’m shredding the whole package!
kerinbot
November 22, 2020
I got a text from somebody who gave me a link to a 1-2-3 forms site and an application to have my car completely wrapped with a Mountain Dew advertisement. I thought why would Mountain Dew do advertisement through a third party on a cheesy forms site? So I went to Google and searched "Mountain Dew auto wrap, is it legitimate" and found this site. Thanks for the information ...I never even filled out the form as a result, so I didn't respond and blocked that number. They were offering $500 a week for this and I thought that's got to be too good to be true. $2,000 a month something you could live on Just for driving around in my local town a logo on my car? Pretty ridiculous but it's amazing how brazen the scammers have gotten! Thanks for the site to confirm!
kerinbot
November 22, 2020
Can't tell if my last comment posted so I'm trying again. As of November 2020, they are sending out text which weed to one two three forms asking you to apply for a Mountain Dew sticker. They are offering $500 a month supposedly. Now I thought $2,000 a month for putting advertising local car in a medium-sized town seems like a lot. I searched on Google four Mountain Dew and car wrap scams and found this site. Thankfully I never even filled out the form. I figured why would a major brand pay so much through a third party? When something suspicious that usually is. Thanks for maintaining this info available so easily found, online!
Scam_no_mam!
November 24, 2020
I just got a 4,550 check FedEx 'd to me to . Boy I was so close to cashing it lol.
Christinemrent…
November 26, 2020
Just got one for red ribbon soda
Juanita Merideth
November 27, 2020
This is still going on. Received check today for $2600. They wanted me to deposit immediately. I checked with rogue credit union in Medford Oregon. They did not issue the check. Said it is a scam
Wrapscam
December 18, 2020
Received one for Duracell via text from +1 (281) 889-8265 Duracell Group is running an advertising campaign and we are paying personal/professional drivers just to go about their normal daily routine. Earn 650 USD weekly to drive your car/bus/truck with a portion of our brand log printed on it. To learn more and apply visit: zfrmz.com/ bVuh5MCxj7 UJCLT 9HY85
CLA
November 29, 2020
Has anyone just cashed the check at a cashing services and kept the money?
prettyandpink@21
November 29, 2020
What do these scamers hope to gain from this fraudulent activity, i swear people will do anything for money, i got one for Aquafina and same procedure, deposit the check for $4,598.76 deduct $500 for my part, and send the rest to the technician by way of money orders or via bank funds transfer as well as a Walmart gift card, i knew something was up, i won't be a pawn in their game, im way to smart and one step ahead of them , just gonna shred check and be done with it. What losers they are!
Emily
November 30, 2020
Drive with Burger King Logo Car Wrap Scam: (11/15/2020 - up-to-date): Please be very careful! 1. They send you text message 2. They send you an email 3. Confirm your cell number and address 4. Send a check through the Priority Mail to your address and with your names on the check $2,965, you get to keep the $500.00 and rest of money needs to be use for car wrap 5. Every month you get $500.00 payment for 2-3 months 6. They tell you to deposit the check immediately In Conclusion: I did get check $2,695.00 with my name on it and it was issued from Community 1st Credit Union ( I just got check on 11/29/2020) and I am not going to deposit the check to my bank account. -Emily
Emily
November 30, 2020
testing
AshMass0816
December 01, 2020

In reply to by Emily

I got one from Dr. Pepper today. $4955 check, $4000 to be paid to the car wrap company, $800 to me and $155 for vehicle cleaning. I tried to get my bank to verify everything and they couldn’t. From the looks of it it is a scam. Check was mailed in a regular envelope from Honolulu, company is Nueterra Holding company out of Leawood, Ks and the bank is Valley State Bank. I’m not trying to screw my limited funds up!
Aloha from hawaii
December 02, 2020
Just for anyone's infomation...I had my car wrapped over 25 years ago and first of all I never got a check in the mail and I drove my car to the detailers house and he did it and I paid him nothing it was for Kool cigs...and my car was decaled for over a year and it was between me and Kools..so please don't get fooled i have a friend that has received 4 different checks...
Eddie3715
December 03, 2020
I received a similar offer and check today to advert for Dr Pepper/7UP. I messaged the number listed on the letter and and asked them what to do next. First thing they asked was if I had deposited the check. That is obviously the most important part of the scam to them. I will be turning this over to the proper authorities tomorrow.
Violet
December 03, 2020
I just got an offer from Aquafina for 800.00 a week....its tempting but im sure its a scam!
LAW
December 04, 2020
My husband and I are dealing with one from Blue Moon (a beer company). We each just got an instruction letter and a check for over 2800$...unreal! I decided to google it and found my way here!
Mn.Vikings
December 06, 2020
I got a text last night. It wants to know if I want to use my car as an advertisement for Starbucks. It’s a wrap on my car. They would pay me $500 a week. It goes on for three months. I can’t even ask any questions on if it’s a real thing or not. After three months it’s over then I don’t know how the wrap gets off if I have to pay to have it taken off, or if they would pay to take it off. They want information like my drivers license number. This is stuff I don’t like to just hand out to anybody especially if I don’t know them. Would you think this would be legit?
Theo
December 07, 2020
When the scammers ask for you address, give them the address to the local police dept or Sheriff’s office. That way they will send it directly to law enforcement instead of you. It *might* work.
Anthonyr617
December 18, 2020
How they they say send us a check were wrapping our vehicles so me can make $ not then they pay us we don't pay them but if any1 no1 a legit monster company I'm done they can wrapp my van if they legit wanna pay me
MML2020
December 10, 2020
I received a cashier's check from fnbo, 1630 Dodge Street, Omaha NEBRASKA 68197, in the amount of $2600 for car wrapping for Guinness Blonde American Lager, instructions: text your full name, amount on check and check number before taking it to the bank. Someone will contact you to wrap your car for $1950. You keep $600 plus $50 for gas for the first week. Has anyone received this text message and a check? Has anyone been scammed by this advertisement?
Tim Tame
December 12, 2020
I recently received a check from a man who claims his name is John Abrams that he works for Bud Light decals program he said I can make a few hundred dollars and sent me a check for $1850 I placed it in a Ziploc bag along with the cardboard envelope it came in and I am mailing it to cyber crimes
Tophertampa
December 12, 2020
I just received a check for $3900 from Ciroc Vodka supposedly...after reading all these personal accounts of scams and they are just like my situation, im definitely not cashing this check...i did text the contact person a link to this article and have had no response. When i mssg the contact verifying i received the check they mssg me back within 2 min. Hmmm seems i was about to be scammed...IM SO THANKFUL FOR THIS INFO....THANK YOU!!!