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We just heard from more companies that scammers are using their names to trick people into a car wrap scam. This time, scammers are saying they’re Marlboro or Purell (but they’re not really).

The gist of the scam is this: scammers send emails and post to social media and job boards with messages like “GET PAID TO DRIVE.” They offer to pay you up to $700 a week if you’ll drive around with your car (or truck or bike) wrapped to advertise a well-known product. But they’re not really affiliated with the brand. They just want your money.

If you message them back, they’ll send you a check to deposit into your bank account. Then they’ll say to use some of that money to pay their “decal agent” to put the ads on your car. They’ll tell you to pay by money order, Walmart money services, or by making a cash deposit directly into the decal agent’s bank account — all ways that are hard to cancel or get your money back.

So what’s really going on? Well, the “decal agent” is really the scammer. And that check you just deposited? That was fake — which means the money you sent is coming out of your own pocket. So, if you deposited a $1,500 check and sent $500 to the “decal agent,” you’re out $500 of your own money. (And you don’t get to keep that $1,000, either.)

Another thing: an FTC analysis published earlier this year showed that fake check scams hit 20- and 30-year-olds hard in the wallet. People reported a median loss in 2019 of $1,988.

Spotted a scam like this? We want to hear about it. Let us know at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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Fake Check Scams
Lori Denise Sirbono
December 29, 2020
Constantly driving senior citizen's crazy as well
Don't useaddress
December 29, 2020

In reply to by Lori Denise Sirbono

I agree, I get at least 5 calls a day from Robocallers. How can we put a stop to this?
Stop the scamming
December 29, 2020
Yes I have been getting all kinds of different emails & text messages...This car thing was one of them but then there's the loans & other stuff.
Sailor
December 29, 2020
I have been approached by a Kevin Dekoninckr who claimed to be from Rock-Star Energy Drink LLC. Phone number used was 503 482-9759. I was earlier contacted by "James Monster Drink hiring manager, no name, via phone number813 556-9186. He offered the opportunity to wrap my "shirt, car or jacket for 1/3months or more". And for $600 per month. Thus far, I have not seen the "check". I have saved the emails.
diane
December 30, 2020
I am on do not call registry and still get 20 or more calls a day. Also on my cell phone. The cell phone started when the phone was activated. No one had been given my number.
LG
December 30, 2020
I am getting call from warranty insurance for my vehicle. They call me 2 to 4 times a week, sometimes late in the evening. Also get call from Marrott hotels claiming I have won a free room. They call me regularly almost every day, want me to send target gift cards for getting a free room. There has to be away of stopping these scammers.
me 2!
January 11, 2021

In reply to by LG

i have been getting these type of call also, its frustrating.
Frito Lies!!!
January 04, 2021
I had a Kevin L. Reed text me regarding Wrapping my car for Frito Lay. I could make 750 a week. They sent me a check for $3220.00. Boy, I wish we could get back at these people and keep the funds. Nevertheless, the envelope came from Harte Hanks Direct Inc. in Pennsylvania and the check was from Texola Inc. in Oklahoma City. I was like how come this check isn't from Frito Lay? I called and they said it was a scam and they've been having this issue for a while now. I know we are financially challenged but we are also smart. Everything should come from one company.
WA hope
January 04, 2021
Car Wrap Scam A Mark John with Aquafina 8142739253 ivan marcus 7708525744 also claimed to be with Aquafina
Birthdaycake
January 04, 2021
I just got this email yesterday.
Aguilas
January 12, 2021
Hi my name is águila, and yea this guy offer me $700 weekly just to have an sticker of the bang energy drink on my car, but it seemed weird to me because the next day I received a letter with a $3950 check inside, and they said to go to the bank make the deposit take the $700 that supposedly was for me and send the rest to some other people!
Tigertony
January 14, 2021
I just got in the mail from a guy named Jason Mcvay a check for 2850.50 telling me that the 1st 850 is for me and the other 2000 is for the wrap specialist to put breyers ice-cream add on my car and the wrap specialist would have my official contract agreement and that everything would be done through text message and that's what tipped me off and also why did I have to pay the wrap guy they should do that plus it looked to good to be true so 1st thing I did was look on this sight for scams glad I did as I can't afford to be paying 2grand for someone else but I do wish I could find this guy and teach him a lesson about stealing from people
David
January 16, 2021
I did not do it
Don't use your…
January 19, 2021
They text me...had all my info like off of career link or something. So now I'm trying to report and this FTC has me tap dancing!!! I caught on fast but want my info protected fast...bet that don't happen. This is when we have too much GOV. Spending and wasting my money and time! Shame
DGB
January 21, 2021
I was contacted via text msg wanting me to wrap my car with their logo and would be paid $600/month to drive around advertising said logo. I agreed and soon received a check written on some liquor store. Feeling like it was a scam I didn’t do anything with money. After a couple of days the same person contacted me again via text and asked if I’d received the check and I told him yes. Told him I was skeptical and decided not to get involved cause it looked like a scam. He then proceeded to tell me it was legit and I again told him I wasn’t interested. He told me to tear the check up and send him a picture. I did and that was that. I still have the text messages and the torn up check.
Old lady
January 22, 2021
Got a text at 2:45 am. Earn $700 a week putting Red Bull sticker on my car. Yeah, right!!
DTucsonLover20…
February 09, 2021
I was sent a check for $9300.85 for money for a car wrap. That's crazy!
Moondog
March 05, 2021
Yep, got the same scam. I’m sitting here with a $2585.65 check from Mr Thomas William, Bud Lights wrap campaign manager. With the same instructions as the rest of you all. What a bunch of idiots!
Bo
March 21, 2021
Received a text from 931.398.2405 asking if I was interested in the autowrap program saying they would pay me $400 a week for placing the wrap on my car. I received a check in the amount of $1,500 by Priority Mail on Friday and kept receiving text asking me when I was going to deposit the check and to let them know as soon as the check was deposited. Deposited check and my bank put a hold on the check for a week with the comment paying bank information indicates item may be returned. I sent a text and informed them I was not interested in doing this anymore and then they asked why. I had a very uneasy feeling about this all along, always trust your gut feeling.
nicecrunch
July 16, 2021
Just received a check in the mail for 2,7500.00 to deposit into my account and then I will receive my car wrap advertisement. He claims to be Mr. William Johnson, hiring manager with Aquafina Bottle Water. Then I was told to text a Mr.Edwin once I deposited the check for further instructions. So I picked up the phone and dialed the number instead of texting and the Man was shocked. He HUNG UP ON ME!!!!!
Nurse green 49
August 01, 2021
I just received a ad about a Desani wrap. My house mate was suspicious and then I started thinking about it coming from Georgia but the"Bank" from the check was in NY city and per the check is a BoA in Virginia and the corporation is "Trello, INC in NY. Then I recalled that CocoCola owns Desani and wondered why it wouldn't be from CocaCola. Should I report this to my police department?
Loser
August 19, 2021
I'm in possession of one of their checks right now. Not in my real name because I knew it had to be some kind of scam. I personally didn't think they'd even send one. Now I'm wondering if it might help catch up with the scammer?
Alvandia
August 24, 2021
Ad agency for Desani Water to put a wrap on my vehicle. Talked to James at 571-532-7628. Got a check for $2450. and wanted me to deposit check an send deposit slip to them. Plus I would have to pay for the car wrap. Check from Suffolk Federal Credit Union in NY, but it came from Arlington, Texas.
Wbisett9
August 31, 2021
Aquafina car wrapping scam I have had four packages dropped on my lawn each containing a 4350 check supposedly from someone in aquafina I'm supposed to contact this person by text message before I cash the check I know it's a scam I just need to know who to contact ...(ftc)? ..I mean who would send four checks@ $4350.00!!
andyp40
September 16, 2021
i just got a scam from Dasani water. They want to wrap my car for $500 a week.
Whiting Indiana
October 19, 2021
Same here just gat a check for 3000 for dasani water on regular paper and a cut and paste pick of the logo. I have to admit once I saw the check I wondered if it was real but definitely not! Shredding the check and moving on. Crazy!!
Steve C
October 22, 2021
I have gotten two checks from Dasani Bottled Water. The first one for $2000 with no directions and the second for $2750.44 telling me to contact Carlos Thompson from Dasani Bottled Water as soon as I receive the check. The money order was mailed from RTC Distribution Center in NJ ( a trucking company when I searched online. And the money order came from Rogue Credit Union in Medford OR. I didn't attempt to cash either. I am not that stupid.
Ervin
November 16, 2021
I’m in the middle of this now. Got 2850 check and I’m supposed to pay the decal guy 2000. But money is so tight I’d never do that if I didn’t see the funds actually go into my account. Do people who fall for this pay the decal guy money with seeing it in their account first?
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