In a nutshell: car wrap scams are a type of fake check scams.
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I first wrote about this scam back in 2013 and it’s almost 10 years later and still going strong.
This post alone has over 1,000 comments from people I’ve helped and countless more have written to me privately. I’ve saved tens of millions of dollars from falling into scammers hands.
If you aren’t careful, it can cost you thousands of dollars.
In fact, a study by the FTC showed that people reported a median loss of $1,988 in 2019 to fake check scams, including car wrap scams (Source)
Today, I’ll explain what a car wrap scam is, how to spot one, and relay my own personal experience with this scam, complete with photos.
How Do Car Wrap Scams Work?
As I’ve mentioned, car wrap scams are a type of fake check scams.
Generally, here’s how a fake check scam works:
1. Scammers get in contact with you.
Scammers get your information while you’re looking for a legitimate work from home job and reach out with a job offer.
Or maybe you end up contacting them because you saw an ad to “get paid to drive,” “mystery shopper wanted,” or “virtual assistant wanted.”
Others tell you that you’ve won a sweepstakes, even though you don’t remember ever buying a ticket or entering a contest.
2. They send you a fake check.
Once the scammer is talking to you, they send you a genuine-looking check. These checks look genuine enough to fool you and bank tellers.
Car wrap scammers will send you a check for a greater amount than they agreed to pay you. They’ll then tell you to deposit the check and send the graphic designers or car wrap service the rest of the amount so they can come and wrap your car.
Mystery shopping scammers will assign you to evaluate the services of a money transfer service or money order retailers, and sometimes gift card retailers. They’ll then send you a check to deposit it in your personal account and then wire the money to someone else or buy gift cards in that amount and send the codes to them.
Virtual or personal assistant scammers send you a check and then instruct you to buy gift cards for supplies for your clients and then send them the codes.
Sweepstakes scammers send you a huge check and then instruct you to wire them a certain percentage for taxes, handling fees, or processing fees.
3. You deposit the fake check.
When you make a check deposit, banks are legally required to make the funds available for you to withdraw immediately.
So you withdraw the funds and send the money to someone else or buy the gift cards, etc.
It all seems fuss-free and above board, right?
Wrong.
4. The check bounces.
It can take days or even weeks to uncover a fake check.
Once it’s uncovered, the check bounces and the bank takes back the money from your account.
But you’ve already sent thousands of your own dollars to the criminals!
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And they’ve vanished by this time. No way to contact them, no way to get the gift card codes back.
So you’re on the hook for the money, and now you have to explain to your bank why you even deposited a fake check into your account in the first place. You’re out the overdraft fees as well if you don’t have enough to cover the money that the bank took back.
This post was originally published in 2013. This scam is STILL occurring today and it looks like it will continue well into the future.
In fact, car wrap scams are now even more dangerous as the people behind them are coming up with more convincing ways to trick people into losing their hard-earned money.
For instance, some of the brands they claim to work with include ROCKSTAR Energy Drink®, Monster Energy Drink, Aquafina, Pirelli Tyres, McCafe, Dunkin’ Donuts, Langers Juice Company, Dr. Pepper, Marlboro, Purell, and many other big names.
Keep reading to see my experience with this scam and if you have received an email that you think might be sketchy, please post it in the comments below.
Can I cash the fake check?
The very first question I get asked is: “Can’t I just take the fake check to one of those check cashing places and keep the money?”
The answer is a hard no.
Check cashing facilities do not hand out money anonymously. You need to provide them with your identity, proof of residence, proof of employment, phone number, address, and so on. Even if they do manage to cash the check for you, the check will bounce and now they know how to get in contact with you.
They will start off by calling you, then mailing a certified letter, then they will escalate it and get the authorities involved. If you do not respond to their attempts to contact you, you can expect a warrant to be placed for your arrest by the authorities.
How to Spot, Avoid, and Report a Car Wrap Scam
So, knowing all these, what can you do to protect yourself from being scammed?
Take note of the following information:
1. Know how legitimate car wrap companies operate.
Actual car wrap companies do exist, such as Carvertise, Wrapify, Nickelytics, and My Free Car.
The main thing is that normally drivers come to them, not the other way around. They typically evaluate drivers based on how many miles they drive, where they drive, and their driving record.
They typically cover the cost of the wrapping themselves, too.
So if you do receive an email asking if you’re interested in having your car wrapped and getting paid hundreds of dollars a week, and you know you haven’t contacted or applied to a car wrapping company, ignore it. That’s likely a car wrap scam.
Most importantly, the amount on the check they’ll send you is exactly for the agreed amount, if they even pay you by check. Carvertise, for instance, pays you via direct deposit.
2. Never deposit checks from people you don’t know.
Sometimes it can be that simple.
Got a check in the mail from a stranger? Put it down and report it (see how below).
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3. Never use money from a check to buy gift cards, money orders, or wire money to third parties.
This applies even if you were written a check by someone you know.
If you buy gift cards and send the codes, or wire money, that’s like giving someone cash. You’re never going to get that money back.
Plus, what legitimate company wants you to send them digital gift cards? This alone doesn’t pass the sniff test.
4. If you receive a suspicious check, report it immediately.
Help yourself and other potential victims by reporting it to the following:
- Federal Trade Commission
- US Postal Inspection Service (under mail fraud)
- Attorney General
So what should you do when a scammer wants you to cash a fake check?
Here’s my personal experience with these car wrap scammers:
The Car Wrap Scam
In mid-September, I received an email from “David Christian” that originated from the address patriciabarrington@hotmail.com. The email simply said the following: Would You Wrap Your Car in an Ad for $300 Weekly? After I answered “yes,” I received the following email back:
Hello,
Wrap advertising is the marketing practice of completely or partially covering (wrapping) a vehicle in an advertisement or livery, thus turning it into a mobile billboard. This can be achieved by simply painting the vehicle surface, but it is becoming more common today to use large vinyl sheets as decals. These can be removed with relative ease, making it much less expensive to change from one advertisement to another. Vehicles with large, flat surfaces, such as buses and light-rail carriages, are fairly easy to work with, though smaller cars with curved surfaces can also be wrapped in this manner. Wrap advertising is available to anybody irrespective of the vehicle you drive.
We are currently seeking to employ individuals in the United States of America. How would you like to make money by simply driving your car or banner wrapped for ROCKSTAR Energy Drink®
How it works?
Here’s the basic premise of the “paid to drive” concept: ROCKSTAR Energy Drink® seek residents in the United States who are professional drivers to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with a big advert for “ROCKSTAR Energy Drink®” plastered on your car. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as “auto wraps,”that almost seem to be painted on the vehicle, and which will cover any portion of your car’s exterior surface.Don’t Have a Car?
If you don’t have a car, you can also participate if you have a bike.What does the company get out of this type of ad strategy?
Lots of exposure and awareness. The auto wraps tend to be colorful, eye-catching and attract lots of attention. Plus, it’s a form of advertising with a captive audience,meaning people who are stuck in traffic can’t avoid seeing the wrapped car alongside them. This program will last for 3 months and the minimum you can participate is a month.What is the Contract Duration?
Once the wrap has been installed, minimum term is 4 weeks and maximum is 12 weeks.Would the wrap/decal damage the paint of my car?
The decal doesn’t damage the paint of car and will be removed by our representative once the contract expire. We will be responsible for installation and removal of the wrap.You will be compensated with $300.00 per week which is essentially a “rental”payment for letting our company use the space and no fee is required from you. ROCKSTAR Energy Drink® shall provide experts that would handle the advert placing on your car. You will receive an upfront payment of $300.00 in form of a check via courier service for accepting to carry this advert on your car.
It is very easy and simple no application fees required. Get back with the following details if you are interested in this offer.
Applicant information:
Name :
Full Street Address(not PO BOX) :
APT #:
City,State,Zip Code:
Cell Phone Number:
Home Phone Number:
Age:We shall be contacting you as soon as we receive this information.
Best Regards,
David Christian
Hiring Manager,
ROCKSTAR Energy Drink®
I provided my contact information, after which I received the following email:
Thank you for your swift response and your willingness to work with us. To this effect, you are advise to check your email regularly to get updates as to know when your upfront payment will arrive at your address.
1) You will receive a Check as a form of payment. As soon as you get the check, you will cash it for the decal wrapping on your car and deduct $300.00 as your up-front payment. The rest of the funds from that same check should be transferred to the Graphic artist that will wrap the decal on your vehicle. All you need is to confirm the acceptance and understanding of this email.
2) You will make a transfer of the remaining funds to the Graphic artist via wire transfer at an outlet in your area, the Info which you will make the transfer to will be emailed to you soon.
3) We’ll like you to confirm Information about your vehicle as below:
i) Type of Car and Color :
ii) Model/Year :
iii) Present Condition and the Mileage:
Note: Please, confirm that you did receive this message so that we can process funds that would be sent to you for the car advert.
All other instructions will be sent out to you asap.
I…………..Confirm to have received this email and understand the content.
Best Regards,
David Christian
Hiring Manager,
ROCKSTAR Energy Drink®
The Fake Check Arrives
I confirmed my willingness to work with “ROCKSTAR Energy Drink.” About a week later, I started receiving text messages on my phone from David Christian regarding my upcoming “check”.
Sure enough, when I went home and opened my mailbox, I found a check made out to me in the amount of $2,350. Woo hoo!
Interestingly, the check was made to look like it was coming from BOP, LLC, a legitimate clothing store business here in Madison, Wisconsin. The envelope, however, had a copy of a USPS Priority Mail 2-Day slip on it in which Rudy Grado, at 27405 Sutherland Drive, Warren, MI 48088-6078, was noted as the sender. I took pictures of both the fake check and the envelope it came in and have provided these pictures below. The pink stickies were affixed by me to hide my home address.
I called BOP, LLC and told them that I had received a check from them for the amount of $2,350. The business immediately asked me if my check was blue. I said no; it was actually a green color. The store immediately informed me that the check was fake and I should talk with law enforcement.
Meanwhile, I had David Christian texting me at least twice that day and asking me if I’d received my instructions on what to do with the check. I texted “him” back that I had yet to receive any emailed instructions. Naturally, when I later checked my email I found the following message:
Hello Halina,
Kindly proceed and deposit the check into your bank account and funds will be available for withdrawal 24hrs after it has been deposited. I will be waiting for a confirmation message immediately the check is deposited.
As soon as the cash is out you are to deduct $300.00 which is your upfront payment and forward the balance ($2,050.00) to the graphic artist that will be wrapping the decal on your vehicle via Money Gram and they will also be responsible for removing the decal when the program is completed. Please visit www.moneygram.com to check agent location close to you and make transfer through them.
Below is the name of the receiver. Please note that the transfer charges should be deducted from the remaining $2,050. You are to get back to me with the transfer details (Reference Number and the exact amount sent).
Below is the Graphic Artist Money Gram details to send the Money to
Receiver’s Information:
Name: Sandra Fagan
City: Jacksonville
State: FL
Zip Code: 32210Kindly get back with the information below once the transfer has been completed.
Reference Number & Total Amount Sent
FAQ: Why am I sending money to Florida? The head office of the graphic artist is in FL.
As soon as payment is acknowledged by them, a local artist in your area will be sent to your address to install the decal wrap on your car. Let me know as soon as the check is deposited today.
If you require additional information, do not hesitate to email or call me.
Best regards,
David Christian
Hiring Manager.
(702)605-0985
What do you think I should do?
At this point in time, I’m debating about taking several different courses of action. I could do the following:
1. Contact local law enforcement and tell them that Patricia Barrington, Sandra Fagan and Rudy Grado are writing fake checks in a legitimate Madison business’ name.
2. Contact the FBI about the same issue since it spans several states (i.e., Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Florida).
3. Tell the scammers that I’ve deposited the check and am waiting for it to clear. This puts the car wrap scammers in a holding pattern because checks typically take 1-2 weeks to clear.
4. Tell the scammers that their “employment” check has been forwarded to the IRS for cashing because I owe back taxes and all my earnings must first be garnished (That should put them into a panic!).
5. New development! I might have a second car wrap scam check coming to my house very soon. This one is from George Jennings of NOS Energy Drink. Should I tell the ROCKSTAR scam folks that I’ve instead decided to work with the NOS scam folks- or vice versa?
I’ve Tried That readers, what would you do in this situation?
Update as of October 7, 2013:
First off all, thank you everyone for your feedback! I was feeling a little confrontational this morning, so I decided to first text David Christian and say that I’d deposited the check last Friday at my bank. Within seconds, I received a text message back from him, asking if I’d received my email instructions.
Deciding to not play text tag any longer, I called Mr. David Christian at the phone number (702) 605-0985. A guy with a slight English accent picked up the line and actually identified himself as David Christian. I told him that I’d deposited the check I’d been sent last Friday, but the bank had put a hold on it for some reason. He asked me how long the hold was. I answered that the bank wanted to hold it for two weeks.
David didn’t seem too concerned about the hold and said that I could just wait until the check cleared, then write out my own check to the graphic artist.
I then asked David about the Madison business that had been listed on the check (BOP, LLC). I said I was confused about why this business was being listed on the check. David answered that this business was the sponsor.
I then told David that I had contacted this business and they had no idea what I was talking about. BOP had also told me that the check was the wrong color (their checks have a blue background).
At that point, David and I lost connection. I tried calling him back at least two times. No answer. I wonder what happened. I hope he’s OK…
Update as of October 12, 2013:
This past week, I received the following email from a “George Jennings (george.jennings11@outlook.com)” of NOS Energy drink:
Hello Halina,
Information reaching me this morning has it that you will be receiving the check today. The check of $2,330.00 has been sent to you via USPS with tracking number (9405501699320009816575) and it will be delivered to you this morning. Kindly proceed and deposit the check into your bank account and funds will be available for withdrawal 24hrs after it has been deposited.
I will be waiting for a confirmation message immediately the check is deposited. As soon as the cash is out you are to deduct $300.00 which is your upfront payment and forward the balance ($2,030.00) to the graphic artist that will be wrapping the decal on your car via Money Gram.
They also will be responsible in removing the decal when the program is completed.
Below is the name of the receiver. You are to get back to me with the transfer information (8 digits Money Gram Reference) Number and the exact amount sent). You are to deduct the transfer charges ($180.00) from the $2,030.00 you have with you.
Below is the Graphic Artist Money Gram Details to send the Money to in Minutes
PAYMENT INFO
Name: Constance H Lawson
City: Saint Johnsbury
State: Vermont
Zip code: 05819Kindly get back with the information below once the transfer has been completed.
Money Gram Reference Number# & Total Amount Sent
FAQ: Why am I sending money to Vermont? The head office the graphic artist is VT, As soon as payment is acknowledge by them, a local artist will come to your house and install the decal wrap on your car. Let me know as soon as the check is deposited.
If you require additional information, do not hesitate to email me or call me.
Best Regards
George Jennings.
951-234-7388
Hiring Manager.
And here’s the fake check:
I’m seeing at least one common theme between the NOS and ROCKSTAR Energy Drink scammers. First of all, the car wrap “sponsors” are both clothing shops, BOP (of Madison, WI) and Madison et Cie (of Los Angeles, CA). What a clothing shop has to do with an energy drink, I haven’t a clue.
I also think that the NOS scam artists are far more sloppy than the ROCKSTAR Energy Drink scam artists; why would an LA-based shop sponsor a car in Madison? Unless that shop was picked only because it has the name “Madison” in it- did the scammers think I wouldn’t notice the location of this “Madison”-based shop?
Update as of October 15, 2013:
So, apparently, I don’t have to be scammed for $1,850 ($2,030 – $180 for wire transfer charges). I can also be scammed for just…get ready for it…$1,000!
Hello Applicant,
You are receiving this email because you applied for car wrap job. We are please to inform you that your application has been processed. Payment has been sent and delivered which include your 1st week payment and funds for the graphic artist. We will like to have an update from you if you have been able to forward fund to your matched graphic artist head office. If yes, provide the transfer info and If you are yet to receive payment from us, please let us know so we can process your application immediately. We look forward to your swift response.
Regards
George Jennings
My reply (including all broken grammar and misspellings): Thank you for email. My bank deposited the check but tell me I will receive back only one thousand dollars from thsi check. I don’t understand why.
George Jennings: Why is that? What did the bank say?
My reply: The bank is saying that the IRS is going to garnish my check as wages. I’m supposed to send them a W-9 from NOS too. Can you send a W-9 for these wages?
George Jennings: All the necessary document will be presented to you before the installation. Kindly proceed to send the $1000 via Western union to Constance to enable us book the installation appointment and the graphic artist will bring the W-9 with him. I will be expecting the Western union details.
Update as of October 18, 2013:
My saga with George Jennings continues:
Me: What about the $200 wire transfer charge?
GJ: The transfer charges should be deducted from the $1000. Kindly try and get this done today so the appointment can be booked.
Me: I sent a check this afternoon to the graphic artist. Thanks!
GJ: To who? You are to make a western union transfer to the details that was sent to you. Not send a check besides no address was provided to you.
Me: To Constance H. Lawson. She lives on Railroad St. in Saint Johnsburg, VT. It was much cheaper for me to just send a check.
GJ: Call it back.
Me: I already sent the check to her, but I can call her phone number and let her know not to cash the check. Or, should I send payment to the following address: PO Box 4125 Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819-4125
At this point, George stopped answering my emails. Too bad…
The Bottom Line: Avoid Car Wrap Job Offers
At best, responding to these scammers will waste your time. At worst, it could cost you thousands of dollars, financial ruin, and get you in trouble with the authorities.
Avoid any offered car wrap jobs, ignore the people behind them, and always do your research.
However, since you’re here reading this, you’re no doubt interested in finding new ways to make some extra money.
Recommended Resources
- Get Paid to Drive
- Secret Shopper Jobs
- Virtual Assistant Jobs
- Legitimate Work from Home Jobs
- Side Hustles That Make Money
- Online Business Ideas
- 20 Ways to Make Money with Your Phone
I hope this post helped you avoid a scam and find a legitimate opportunity to pursue.
Please leave a comment below if you’ve ever had a run-in with one of these scammers. Every comment helps!
They are still going strong. Got an email for $300 car wrap from: Ryan Simmons (roadsection@hotmail.com)
I replied to an email from a guy posing as a Hiring Manager for Crunk Energy Drink. I immediately contact Crunk Energy Drink and they informed me that they are “NOT involved or supporting any car wrap program and there is no connection to the brand.” I emailed the scammer about this and have not received any more communication from him.
Hey.. this is what I am doing right now. I ma having a Txt war with a scammer about the Car wrap thing. Says he is from Budweiser Select Beer (hiring manager).. I told him to send me the check.. Right now I’m playing with the guy.. Apparently he’s not too happy with me because I told him I was verifying the check and he told me to ” just go deposit the check ” His english is horrible. He hasnt txted me back.. I wonder why?
Just received the check. I wanted to see what it would look like. I am going to put it in a frame and show my friends and tell them about the scam. I have contacted several other scammers and hope they spend the funds to mail me more checks. It has to cost them something to send all the checks.
REMEMBER If it sounds too good to be true it probably is….
Hi I found the ad for the car wrap on Facebook and while some people will say it’s to much money to “advertise” I say it’s really not. A billboard which is pretty limited due to mobility costs a few thousand per month. Paying to wrap a car about half of that! I would like to work with the gallery the scammers are pretending to be. Is that any option?
Re: info@mountain-dew.org looking authentic
Mountain Dew a major TM’d product would never stoop to using a hyphen. I have a hyphen in my email address, but I was real late to the “good email address” party. Then, too, a company wouldn’t use dot org. And MD is owned by Pepsico, so wouldn’t it be mountaindew@pepsico.com?
Looking at internet whois records, mountain-dew.org is owned by one “Carlos Richardson.” He lists a HOTMAIL address. And he first got the domain in February, 2014. Very scary.
PS I too got this scam. The first email was so bad, I missed it. The next one got me going, but I read the payment as $400 a month, not per week. ($20,000 a year for putting a sign on your car??) A lot more believable. Glad I found this discussion.
This is the email address for the scam I was sent and posted on here a little earlier
Car Wrap Company [nalbujar@regionlima.gob.pe]
This is an email that I was sent looking for the same thing, but worded differently than the ones listed above….
Here is your chance to get paid for driving your own car.
We are presently looking for individuals in your area who would be inclined to be involved in our automotive advertising program.
You will be required to drive more than 200 miles a week, at this level we pay $200. Did I mention that we also reimburse you for your gasoline while you’re on the job? You’ll have to keep the receipts and we will repay you by the end of the month.
We currently have got drivers across the nation getting paid to drive their own individual cars at this moment. Note that the adverts placed on your car have nothing to do with politics, alcohol, tobacco or adult contents.
If you are considering this program email your Full Name, Phone Number, Contact Address and Automobile Model/Make to us ASAP.
If we like what we see we’ll e-mail you along with instructions on how to proceed.
Regards,
Car Wrap Team.
Here is one I received 4/22/2014. The intial come on letter to advertse for Bud Light Lime from “”theresaetd@gmail.com”
MAKE MONEY BY SIMPLY DRIVING YOUR CAR
*EARN NO LESS THAN $400 WEEKLY TO ADVERTISE ON YOUR CAR.
It is Very Easy and Simple* No Application fees required.How it works Here’s the basic premise of the “paid to drive”
BUDLIGHT LIME seeks people — regular citizens, not professional drivers — to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with an advert for “BUDLIGHT LIME DRINK” plastered on your car but part of the car. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as “auto wraps,” that almost seem to be painted on the vehicle, and which will cover any portion of your car’s exterior surface. What does the company get out of this type of ad strategy? Lots of exposure and awareness. The auto wraps will be colorful, eye-catching and attract lots of attention. Plus, it’s a form of advertising with a captive audience, meaning people who are stuck in traffic and can’t avoid seeing the wrapped car alongside them. This program will last for 3 months and the minimum period you can participate is 1 month. You will be compensated with a $400 (Four hundred dollars per Week)
APPLY HERE
Kindly get back to us with your details.We shall be contacting you as soon as we receive these information,do not hesistate to ask any question.
Dallas Williams
Sales/Hiring Manager
Today, 4/23/2014 I received this e-mail from, “bonnie35lf@g-mail.com”
Hello,
Thanks for the response, Your details has been
received, based on your current location, I am happy to let you know that your car has been selected for the job and you will be one of our new BUDLIGHT DRINK advert carriers.
The check for the initial assignment would be sent to you and also for the bill to be placed on your car, The check includes the $400 we are paying you to put the advert on your car and also the remaining funds that you will be remitting to the expert coming to do it. Please read my previous email again to familiarize yourself with this process.
We want your total Co-operation, Support, Availability and Trust. Acknowledge that you receive and understand this email and that you are ready to start the job as soon as you received the check.
I…………………………..Confirm to have received this email and understood the content. Thanks for your anticipated co-operation in order to start work soon.
Dallas Williams
Sales/Hiring Manager
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt.(Clever touch with the sayings)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSTINGS. I AM GLAD I GOOGLED CAR WRAP ADVERTISING.
Got one from “Texaco Oil”, Hiring Manager “Carlos Arzola”, email address
Check was for $1930.00. Weekly amount was $400.00. I realized it was a scam when I received the email asking me to “split remaining amount after withdrawing your $400.00 and put it on 2 money cards from Wal-Mart”?!?! Wal-Mart?!?!?! Really?!?! Plus why would I have to put it on 2 cards if there was only one company doing the graphic work?! I also have a local graphics location…why do I have to one in North Dakota…I live in South Carolina?!?!
Then the check came from Atlanta, Georgia thru PriortiyMail USPS and the Check was made out from a Bank in Radcliff, Georgia. Check has NO BUSINESS logo…nothing saying Texaco Oil or anything saying Chevron Corp. (who actually owns Texaco). Just the bank info, the amount, my name and a hardly legible signature. Check was blue grey in color with the bank’s information in green.
I replied to the email with a separate email account…email is valid but I am waiting to hear a reply. I do like the previous comment about spending the money on a hooker & needing a new check haha. I am hoping to see if I receive the same information from the same people so I can turn it into the proper authorities.
Hope this helps someone else so they don’t lose what they worked for!
Cashing the check works the same way. Unless the teller calls to validate the account, he/she will cash it and 3-5 days later, get notification that it was fake. Best thing to do is ask the bank teller to call and see if the check is good before cashing or depositing it.
I received the email from the exact same people names, but I never gave them my personal information because I know that a legimate company would never operate in such an ammature way. I knew a real company would direct you to their website for submission. Then, once you go to the website, you can verify the company’s information through the Better Business Bureau and comfirm if they have a website on file.
I suggest you do not put that check in your personal bank because it will show active in your bank for 2 days or so, then it will drop out of your account due to it being a fake check. In 2 days, these criminals expect you will run to the Western Union location and send the money tricking you to believe that you just made $300.
You can try cashing the fraud check without depositing it in my personal account. Doing this, the teller can tell you if it looks suspicious.
Be like me, don’t trust anyone online. CRIMES ARE DONE ONLINE BECAUSE THESE CRIMINALS CAN NOT ALWAYS BE CAUGHT.
My sister receive a letter like these too but it comes from a certain petterson i think and it also mentioned about an energy drink too. Ah scammers these days would go to such extent.
I get one of these about once a week and have been for months. I just delete them because it’s obvious they’re a scam. Today’s was this:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Would you wrap your car in an Ad for $600 Weekly? If you have got a car, truck or a bike you are qualified. The wrap doesn’t damage paint. Reply if interested.
Lambert Newton
Promotion Manager
with the return address: MOUNTAIN DEW
Got the same scam email for Mountain Dew. Thanks for educating us.
Best Regards,
Lambert Newton
Promotion Manager
Mountain Dew Energy Drink®
——–
Mountain Dew Beverage Group
info@mountaindew.qtum.net
Tel: +44-744-319-6725
Fax: +44-700-606-2450
So I want to know. If they send a money order (usps). Don’t you have to use cash for money orders? Can I not just take it toa local check caging place and cash the money order. Or better yet. To the post office?
Hi Leroy,
Thanks for your comment! My bet is that the check and/or money order is fake no matter what, as noted on this useful reference: http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/fraudtypes/counterfeitmoneyorder.aspx. You can forge checks as well as money orders.
As for the cashing of these fake financial instruments (as they’re called), hopefully, any check cashing agency will have seen enough checks or money orders to know instantly when one is fake. If there is a cash-out, that clerk is going to get into some hot water because the agency will lose the money. As for the post office, since they do make their own money orders, I’m thinking they would also know right away that you have a fake money order in your hands.
Rosa Limah says Mountain Dew will pay me $300 a week to wrap my car. Whoot whoo. I’m going to play Rosa like a fiddle. I’ll post updates as they happen. Thank you Halina. Thank you ‘I’ve Tried That”.
IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE…IT IS! Especially with get rich quick schemes, we’ll pay you lots of money, no work required! It appears these scam artists have branched out to Canada. I just received an email offering me $600/month to wrap my car for Mountain Dew. I knew immediately that it was a scam. Why would I be the lucky one to be picked out of thousands of other people that own cars, to get $600/month, of course it’s a scam!!! I wanted to see what the Mountain Dew company thought of these people using their name. I found your article first. I feel really bad for those of you that realized too late that it was a scam & already paid these deadbeats! It’s an expensive lesson but hopefully you will NEVER give anyone money ever again without fully researching first! You can always call your local police if you aren’t sure. They usually know all the scams going on in their area, or if it sounds like one.
Just received the letter from John Morgan, glad I googled his name to see it was a scam. I think I’m going to play along with this to see how much info I can get from him. Maybe he’ll make a mistake and I can get the cops to catch him.
Hi everyone, my story starts a little differently than most of yours…the scammers are getting clever now,they posted the ad for NOS energy drink car wrapping opportunity in the jobs section of the local Sunday newspaper! I answered the ad by sending an email with the info requested and about a week later received an email with instructions once the check of $2200 arrives. I received the check in the same way you all have received them, in a priority mail cardboard envelope (similar to the Fed Ex envelope) with the check inside. It was from Central Transport, LLC in Warren, MI. Now why would a trucking company want to wrap a vehicle up in NOS energy drink logos? I am going to contact them and let them know their company is being used by scammers. I am not going to deposit the check but alert local authorities. I am an EMT and will be seeing the police when I am on duty tonight. The scammers don’t know who they’re dealing with and who I know…
I have been scammed…unfortunately I found this thread too late..Wired money to KATHY HERNANDEZ in Oakland, CA..got a check for $1,975, wired $1,375..idiot me…it was for Monster Energy on behalf of Yamaha Motor Corp.
Wednesday / April 2nd
On Monday, I received an email from Ryan Simmons asking one simple question: Would You Wrap Your Car in an Ad for $300 Weekly. It had the subject “Job Alert NOS Car Wrap”. I responded with a yes. The next day, Ryan Simmons requested my contact information. The next email said I should reply to start receiving checks in the mail. Fortunately, however, I recognized that if I had to go to my bank and to Western Union, it was another scam like others I’ve experienced. In addition, my brother sent me a warning email to stay away from these types of email.
I got the Monster one as a craigslist spam this morning. I had a little time to kill, so I forwarded the email to Monster’s marketing department, then replied to the spammer that I was interested, and gave them the name, address and phone number of a local FBI cyber-crimes agent. lol.
From Ryan Simmons (ryan.simmons11@outlook.com)
(Actual Email)
Hello,
Wrap advertising is the marketing practice of completely or partially covering (wrapping) a vehicle in an advertisement or livery, thus turning it into a mobile billboard. This can be achieved by simply painting the vehicle surface, but it is becoming more common today to use large vinyl sheets as decals. These can be removed with relative ease, making it much less expensive to change from one advertisement to another. Vehicles with large, flat surfaces, such as buses and light-rail carriages, are fairly easy to work with, though smaller cars with curved surfaces can also be wrapped in this manner. Wrap advertising is available to anybody irrespective of the vehicle you drive.
We are currently seeking to employ individuals living in USA. Who will like to make money by simply driving your car or banner wrapped for NOS Energy Drink®.
How it works?
Here’s the basic premise of the “paid to drive” concept: NOS Energy Drink® seeks people regular citizens, professional drivers to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with a big advert for “NOS Energy Drink®” plastered on your car. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as “auto wraps,”that almost seem to be painted on the vehicle, and which will cover any portion of your car’s exterior surface.
Don’t Have a Car?
If you don’t have a car, you can also participate if you have a bike.
What does the company get out of this type of ad strategy?
Lots of exposure and awareness. The auto wraps tend to be colourful eye-catching and attract lots of attention. Plus, it’s a form of advertising with a captive audience,meaning people who are stuck in traffic can’t avoid seeing the wrapped car alongside them. This program will last for 3 months and the minimum you can participate is a month.
What is the Contract Duration?
Once the wrap has been installed, minimum term is 2 weeks and maximum is 12 weeks.
Would the wrap/decal damage the paint of my car?
The decal doesn’t damage the paint of car and will be removed by our representative once the contract expire. We will be responsible for installation and removal of the wrap.
Does it cover the whole car?
No, the decal it only install in the car trunk and doors.
You will be compensated with $300.00 per week which is essentially a “rental”payment for letting our company use the space no fee is required from you. NOS Energy Drink® shall provide experts that would handle the advert placing on your car. You will receive an upfront payment of $300.00 inform of check via courier service for accepting to carry this advert on your car.
It is very easy and simple no application fees required. Get back with the following details if you are interested in this offer.
Applicant information:
Name :
Full Street Address(not PO BOX) :
APT #:
City,State,Zip Code:
Cell Phone Number:
Home Phone Number:
Age:
We shall be contacting you as soon as we receive this information.
Best Regards,
Ryan Simmons
Hiring Manager
NOS Energy Drink®
I also was quite excited for this opportunity(even being a little skeptical) because I am very outgoing. Thank you all!!!!!!! Thank you personally, Halina Zakowicz for your spreading of the word. Mine was from Monster Energy Drinks! I so could have used this money but it would have cost me way more in the long run, and more head aches!!!!! I will turn over to the authorities and be done with it!! Don’t have time to waste on trash cob’s like this!!! Thanks again everyone!!
Watch for a new scam…this one is an email from your bank. I got one yesterday from Wells Fargo saying that numerous attempts had been made to access my account from different computers and I needed to update my information or the account would be permanently frozen as of March 29. Needless to say, I did not press UPDATE ACCOUNT HERE, but rather printed it out and took it to my bank to ask if it was legitimate. Of course, it wasn’t. Con artists are prolific right now. I am fast becoming a cynic!!
Jerry Harrison with Mountain Dew actually contacted me with a text message, not email. Looks like I have a fake check coming too. I’ve felt hesitant the whole time but just went along to see how it would play out. I’m looking forward to messing with them now. And I have a friend that is a police detective, may have to put a little packet of info together for him. Glad I found this forum.
I guess I have a fake in route to my address…lol. I’ve recently been in communication with Leonida Hopkins, using this email address and phone number: anagj12@gmail.com / 706-408-7420. Everything you all have stated is the exact communication that has been sent to me.
Its funny to think that anytime of checks, are deposited into the bank and not found fake until a couple of days after it has been submitted to the account. Banks should have a system where they check the check first to see if its the real deal. With technology advancing you would think this could happen. At a job I used to work, we had a machine that let us know if it was a fake check or the real thing within minutes. Its really idiotic to see that the clothing store has a machine like that while banks just accept any check and then notify you days later about it. Its really frustrating, and that is why scammers get away with it. I was scammed because I didn’t know the check was fake until; my bank called me. Once I deposited the check funds were immediately available. Which is funny, for that amount they should have put a hold on it at least a day or two. At least my bank didn’t. Now I am really frustrated and scared about this and I don’t know what to do.
I applied for the same auto wrap thing and I was also sent a fake check for 925.00. My bank caught it and put it on hold, I called law enforcement and they said It was indeed a fake check, they had a bank company on the check the officer could not find online. He was very kind (officer) and suggested I close my bank account it was in and open a new bank account.
Never again will I apply for auto wraps. Who knows which ones are real or fake?
I have had a couple versions of this. 2-3 offers to buy my timeshare followed by weird instructions as to how to pay the lawyer’s fees. The “I need help getting my $ out of (war-torn middle east country)” letter the foreign inheritance letter and now this car wrap thing that I almost fell for because I do mystery shopping and I thought it was just a new company contacting me with a different sort of job. I got suspicious when the instructions got weird this time and found this site.
Just a heads up, this is still happening and perhaps their reading these posts, it now has a phone number with a 44+ country code which is the UK. My mother was kind enough to forward this opertunity to me,lol. Regardless it is now the new Mountain Dew energy drink, they must have a thing these energy drinks. The kicker was this, the email originated at : info@mountain-dew.org, very convincing, can someone tell me how they manage this? Oh yeah and I absolutely love the M.O.U. ( memorandum of understanding )
Upon receipt of the above information, our Memorandum of Understanding (M.O.U) will be made available to you to enable us proceed. Your swift response will be appreciated.
Best Regards,
Lambert Newton
Promotion Manager
Mountain Dew Energy Drink®
——–
Mountain Dew Beverage Group
info@mountain-dew.org
Tel: +44-744-319-6725
Fax: +44-700-606-2450
My wife replied to a craigslist ad without reading it and I received an email from David CLark, hiring manager for monster energy drink. Yes he spelled his las name with the capital L. This is what I replied with:
I don’t have a bank account because I have several felonies for violent crimes. I just got out of prison so it’s hard to get work due to all of my tats. Just send the money to the graphic artist and they can bring me the cash when they wrap my car. I don’t actually own my car. I borrowed it from some guy I know. Also can you provide me with a reference for my parole officer?
Hi Lindsey, I hate telling you this but the odds in getting your money back is about nil. If the money went to Nigeria or somewhere like that, forget it. Hopefully it was not too much your out. I think we would all like to get our hands on them and….squeeze!! I wish I could help, Bill
Sadly Lindsey there is really not anything you can do at this point. Scammers never keep the same addresses or emails for long. You can report it to local or federal law enforcement . Even though they most likely wont do anything I still recommend it because the more reports they get the more they are likely to eventually take action on these crooks. So sorry! it’s a good practice to always research online businesses before you make any moves with them. Mike
Sad and weird I just happen to look at my email and found this! I figured i do a search online to see how it worked and bumped into this SCAM Page! Thanks for letting me know…
Here is the Letter I received below:
JOB ALERT FROM POWERADE ENERGY DRINK
Paul Nolan (hc.electric@hotmail.com)
Add to contacts
10/22/13
[Keep this message at the top of your inbox]
Picture of Paul Nolan
Would You Wrap Your Car in an Ad for $300 Weekly. If you have got a car, truck or a bike you are qualified. The wrap doesn’t damage paint.
PAUL NOLAN.
I totally got scammed, i wanted to believe it was true… now that i’ve already lost my money, is there anything i can do?
Hey Bill,
Yeah, “steal” their money- heh! Let us know what results. Thanks!
Thank You. They are now sending a “replacement check” which is due here tomorrow, the 11th. Ill jerk them around again, and then tell them that I am keeping all the money. They get all in a tizzy! I will let you know.
What an excellent, well written synopsis of you scamming event. I just received an email from “Monster” drinks promising the typical $300 per week. Of course it sounds easy and enticing! Not happy that there are sooo many con artists out there, but so happy that there are clearly many people like you and me (and all these great and hilarious posters!) that are smart enough to dig a little deeper and avoid any real pitfalls! Good luck to ALL OF YOU!
This is the one I just got and replied to. However if they ask about all that info I would not give it. I like many thought it seams like something people would want to do for real. I saw a car on my drive home yesterday that had a car wrap on it. :( To bad it would be a great thing for my son.
Would you wrap your car, bus, truck, van, boat or bicycle in an Ad and earn $300 Weekly at no cost by just going about your normal routine only with an advert of SK Energy drink Drink plastered on your vehicle without affecting the painting or the body?
Reply if Interested to get more details about this promo.
John Phillips
Hiring Manager
Stay away from Craigslist ads wanting you advertise Monster logos for a whopping $400 a week. Sent from monstercarwrap@outlook.com
I received a scam email from repjeffsmith@outlook.com advertising Nestle Water wraps. It’s a trap. Don’t give in.
Hello all, Well I have been trying to turn the table with these scammers. Over the years I received around 800,000.00 dollars from checks, money orders, drafts…. you name it. All are pretty much the same. Deposit the check…. wait 3 days or so, pull the money out right away{this is important}, and then send the rest to them via Western Union. What is important to know is that a check really does NOT clear for at least a week or more once you deposit the fake check. Federal law say that the lending instutuons must release the funds to you in about 3 working day. And the do release it to your account. BUT clearing the check from your instutuin to the intustion that is on the check takes more time than 3 days. The scammers want you to go to an ATM right away once the funds are released to you, pull pout the money and send it to them. REMEMBER… Once you send the money Western Union, you can kiss that money good bye !If the money is transferd overseas, there is really nothing the Feds here can really do. YOU will be responsible to reimburse your lending institution back. Tellers are NOT trained or equipped to tell if a piece of paper is fraud. Now this bothers me some that in this day and age, we can still not tell imedeally that a check is good or not, even though it is on another lending instution. Or at least within those 3 business days. But I guess they would loose a lot of intrest if this was sped up.
Anyhow what i do is I tell them I got the money, I pulled it all out of my bank in the 3 days and they send me the Western Union instructions. I then WAIT hours or until the next day and I tell them as I was going to Walmart to send the money, My lender called me and said the there is a problem with the check. I tell the scammer what my lender says and they tell me it is some sort of mix-up and I should go and send the money anyways and they will straighten it out. I wait some more…. and they get in touch with me and want to know why Im not sending the money over. {Just knowing these assholes are getting all upset is worth it}
I play them along, telling them i really want a good check, but of course, no check will come. I finally tell them if I do not get a good check by the next day, I will keep the money. I tell them that my bank wants me to sign off on some papers that I did not know this was a fake check and then I would NOT be responsible for paying them back. Then they go absolutely nuts! They try to intimidate me by saying they will call the police or the Federal authorities, and I tell them to … Please do! I have also send a picture of money spiraled out telling them that this could have been theirs too but you screwed up. Going on vacation!!
I manage a senior community of 250 people in Southern Oregon. I found out last week that these scammers reproduced our business checks with correct routing number, bank account number and also reproduced a copy of my real signature. Fortunately our bank contacted me when we learned of the first check and closed the account. There are about 50 checks from our business all over the U.S. The people that the checks are coming from are not scammers but also victims of identity theft. Please do not cash any of these forged checks. You will be responsible to pay the money back to your bank. This is all a crying shame.
Hi! U can john cook from flipfizz energy drink to ur list. Just got a word for word email but offering 450 a week ! These people suck!
Hi Sheri…Heh! Thanks for the shout-out to the scammers! Maybe they’ll be nice enough to leave a comment…
David Christian just showed up in my inbox for a car wrap offer as well. I wasn’t tempted, as I could tell it was a scam but googled it and came across this article. I responded to him by saying, “Hey look! Someone wrote an article about you… you’re famous!” and copied a link to this article. :P
I have been talking to someone named Frank Fairbanks, Hiring Manager with Texaco Oil. I never agreed to their contract but received the check yesterday for $2430 with instructions to purchase 4 money gram cards from KMart, Walmart, CVS or Walgreens. The decal company is in Arizona, now mind you I live in Texas. He just emailed me again to day, being very pushy about getting the check deposited and sending him a copy of my deposit slip. Well, that’s not going to happen. I felt it was a scam but check here anyway and boy was I right. I will be keeping the check as evidence just in case. The purchaser is Sharmetta Hibbs and the envelope that was shipped next day air is from Elizabeth Rose in Cornelius Orgeon with a 937-453-1868 phone number. Also the check is signed by someone with the last name of Hardrick I think, very hard to read. Thanks to everyone on here that has posted something. It save me.
I just received an email tonight from John Morgan for Monster Energy Drink. I had a couple of companies try to scam me a couple years ago but I like playing with their minds too. I took both checks I received to law enforcement and they did nothing about it. They said by the time they track them down, they are long gone. Hopefully most people catch on before it’s too late!