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!
This is a new one! In January I was contacted for the car wraps by George Jennings (who sent the check) and from David Christian from 2 different energy drinks. I played them until I got bored. This is a new one from LTS research:
********************************************************
Kathy Maunahan
7/19/14
km@ltsresearch.com
Good morning ,
This serves to confirm your selection as 1 of 2 evaluation participants in your area. Funds for
the survey, your $300 compensation and other materials needed for the evaluation will
be delivered to your address in 2-3 business days.
Further instructions will be sent to you upon delivery. Thank you for choosing to participate and
I hope to receive your response acknowledging receipt of this email today.
Regards
Kathy Maunahan
Senior Research Analyst
********************************************
Today I got the check by priority mail $2,250 from which I am supposed to keep $300. The enclosed letter reads:
******************************************************
620 Wilshire Blvd #300
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Dear Survey Participant,
Attached to this letter is your evaluation check. It has both your $300 compensation and the funds for the evaluation you will be conducting for us.
Confirm receipt of this check by sending me an email km@ltsresearch.com receive further instructions on how to go about conducting the evaluation.
Kind regards,
Kathy Maunahan
Market Research Analyst
LTS Research Co.
WESTERN UNION PIZZA HUT CHEVROLET SAMSUNG
INTEL RED BULL M
*********************************************************
I emailed her today that I got the check and I am waiting on ‘further instructions’
Smugness is not attractive. Best not to assume “it could never happen to me”
how could anyone fall for a scam like this?
Who would send you a $3300 check and trust you to forward $3000 to another person. They would be relying on the good will of the recipient.
Beside if it was legit they would cut a seperate check for the graphic designer for his $3000.
As P.T. Barnum used to say “There’s a sucker born every minute”
well, thankfully i found this site and all your wonderful comments, i am about to receive my ‘check’ from Lambert Newton of Moutain dew.. i will be sure NOT to cash it!
I received this Friday so they are still out there
Hello,
Wrap your car with Budweiser® Beer Advertisement Wrap and Get Paid…
It is Very Easy and Simple with No Application fees required. Here’s how It works – The basic premise of the “paid
to drive” concept Budweiser Black Crown® Advertising seeks people — regular citizens, not professional drivers — to go
about their normal routine as they usually do, only with a big advert of “Budweiser Black Crown® Beer ” plastered on
your car/truck.The adverts is 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 tend to
be colorful and 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 $350 (Three hundred,fifty dollars per Week),which is essentially a “rental” payment for
letting our company use the space and we shall provide Experts that would handle the advert placing on your car.
Interested person should please feel Free to fill out the information below and send it back to us today and we will get back to you with details.
Full Names:
Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Age:
Present Occupation:
Truck/Car Model:
Home Phone Number:
Cell / Mobile Phone Number
Best Regards,
Charles Pleasant,
Hiring Manager,
Budweiser® Beer
Maybe you can bait them! What are they trying to sell you?
i put my e-mail and number on advertisement and now they keep on calling me on with a different number each time and i always close the line on them but know i dont know what to do
Consider baiting them! Go to http://www.thescambaiters.com
Use thrasher6 as the referral. Go there and read my baits.
Wow, that’s pretty good. They’ve really got there speech down to a science these days. Up until they want the money sent to them in the form of Money Pak Cards? I don’t think so. I’ve been following this thread since Oct last year and the scammers are getting pretty good. I too was one of the lucky ones to find this site before I got in deep. I just keep reminding myself that karma is a b&$@:h!!
Hello Rick,
This is to inform you that adequate arrangements have been made for your car to be wrapped. Payment to cover the cost of wrap was sent to you and will deliver on today via USPS Courier Service tracking number : 9405 5036 9930 0334 1311 72
Kindly proceed to your bank to have the check deposited, Funds will be available for withdrawal immediately or 24hrs after it has been deposited. I will be waiting for a confirmation message once it has been deposited and state clearly when your bank indicates the funds would be available for withdrawal. Send me a scan or snap copy of the deposit slip issued to you at the bank via email, after you have deposited the check for record purposes. You are too black out your account number on the deposit slip before it’s sent over to us.
You are to deduct your 1 week compensation which is $300 for the service you are rendering (wrapping your car). Payment for subsequent weeks will be sent out and will deliver next week.
The decal company is in New York and they have graphic artists nationwide who also have garages where the wrap can be done, but you can choose to have it done at your residence as it is not totally mandatory to take it to the garage within your proximity. A graphic artist will be assigned in your State to get the wrap done. The remaining funds should be transferred to the decal company, so on receiving it, they send down the wrap installer along with the wrap to get the wrap done.
The money should be transferred via MoneyPak Card Service. Kindly purchase Three (3) MoneyPak cards worth $500 each at Kmart store ,CVS/ Pharmacy or Walgreen Drug store which we will forward to the decal specialist who will handle the wrap .Do scratch and email the 14 digit (MONEYPAK Card Numbers) on receiving it, decal company will send down the wrap installer along with the wrap to get the wrap done
On completion of the Moneypak card purchase, scratch and email the 14 digit MONEYPAK Card Numbers, and state when it will be convenient for you to have the decal specialist come to your house to wrap the car. This should not take long, so you might choose to watch them do it. Note that the wrap will be done at your place.
A simple response to my e-mail is greatly appreciated so that I’ll know it was received and to confirm you understand all instructions.
Many Thanks,
Robert Harvey
Hiring Manager,
Rockstar Energy Drink®
Consider baiting him and other scammers. Consider joining http://www.thescambaiters.com and use thrasher6 as the referral. Try to trick him into giving you his bank account information (or one of his money launderer).
I am at this moment reading an email from,Lambert Newton. Promotion Manager
Mountain Dew Energy Drink
I ahven’t replied yet.
But I do want to have some fun with them. Before I call police
Hi Donald,
You should try to bait the scammer! Open a new email account using outlook, or gmail and make up a fake name and use a it along with a fake postal address, real city state and zip code and get him to send a counterfeit check to it. Then after a few days (that you know he sent it) tell him you got the payment and make up an excuse why you can’t wire the money western union or Money Gram and tell him the only way you will wire him any money is by Direct Bank Transfer. If he gives you a bank account report it to thescambaiters and they will report it to their law enforcement contacts. About your question, there are some legit autowrap programs but most are scams. If you get any checks sent to you, call the bank on the check and even then,be wary. The bank can make mistakes as well! Go to http://www.thescambaiters.com and join them. Send Will an email and lizzytish and they can help. Please consider becoming a baiter!
Ok, so I too received this scam and followed up. My, question is are there any valid Autowrap programs out there that do not require any up front fees and a person can make a little extra income
Also, they usually don’t send their own money on postage or shipping! They hack into FedEx accounts and UPS accounts and use them to ship the counterfeit checks
What about baiting the scammers? I’ve baited many of them and milked bank accounts from them! Join a scam baiting forum and report the bank accounts (emails with full headers). Make up some excuse why you can’t wire the money Western Union or MG, then tell them you can wire the money by direct bank transfer.
SAME THING FROM MOUNTAIN DEW
From: Mountain Dew Promotion(mountain.ca@outlook.com)
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
Hi,
I just received an email from a guy calling himself Lamberton Newton of Mountain Dew Energy Drink. I was suspicious of the international phone number so I decided to do a search and found this website! This guy was offering $600 a month. Thank you for saving me $! This was his email admin@mountaindew-promo.org
Disappointing. I got a NOS one from Jamie Hanks.
this just recently happened to me, are you able to contact me please?
I must have too much time on my hands. I love emailing these people and getting them to spen the 10 bucks or so overnighting the fake check to me. I have 3 checks, and one money order (from a different scam). My wife, who is a banker, was impressed with the money order, her tellers might have cashed it (later withdrawing the money from your account). If you have the time and patience, shoot these people an email. Make them spen so much of their money on postage that they might stop scamming. Rememer, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is (a scam).
I am glad I decided to see if this thing was a scam. I too have received the NOS wrap scam emails. They were well worded emails, so I really didnt catch anything out of the ordinary that stuck out as odd. So they had me lol. I just sent back my confirmation stuff to receive my “Check” to split between me and the graphic design artist.
I will wait till I get the check and do what some of the people above have said. Should be and will be interesting to find out.
Thanks everyone for the heads up on this!
Here’s the update everyone. After calling Monster in reference to Daniel Miller, I shared the link with the scammer and said Nice try. Read this thoroughly. Even your so called fake name pops up a few times in the comments. Nice try though. And I called Monster. They immediately said that its a scam. Once again, nice try. Running scared. You will get caught soon and I will laugh hard once they put your scams and fake aliases on television for the world to see. Run bitch.Oh, and I already forwarded your debauchery and constant mispellings of the english language over to the FBI for the Cyber Fraud Department. I hope you can run fast…. I should be getting that fake check sometime today or tomorrow and I was just wanting to scare him in the beginning but got more upset the more I thought of it. Then thought how much trouble I’d be in if I didn’t find yall with stories like these. Then I got even more upset that a lot of you fell for it and got in trouble. I don’t blame those who fell for it. It can happen to almost anyone. So, I opened up a case with the FBI Cyber Fraud Department
I received the same crooked email but this one was from Monster Energy Drink. I was going to get that $300 per week decal but those darn red flags just kept popping up. The so called name of this Douche Nozzle is Daniel Miller. My Spidie senses started to kick in when he kept telling me that when i get my first check, I am to deduct $300 and he’ll give me instructions on what to do with the rest of the money for the “decal.” I have insomnia and decided to do some research because something just didn’t feel right. That’s when i gound this site. Thank God I found all of you here with these wonderful stories. I called Monster and they blurted out “It’s A Scam. Don’t Do It.” I told the lady that I’m going to burst this guy’s and she chuckled and said go ahead. I’ll let yall know how it turned out in a few minutes.
I get a lot of odd job off of Craigslist but about 1 out of every 4 is a scam. The cash a check and send money is the most common. But also watch out for the one where they send merchandise to your address asking you to repack and reship it. Because with this one they order the stuff on stolen cards so you are part of a credit card fraud ring, receiving stolen property and committing mail fraud.
I got an email for Bud Light car Wrap.
I wrote back to them in big letters “scam”
i was wandering, how bout you take the check to
a check cashing store and keep the money instead.
scams everywhere. beware people.
THE SAME THING JUST HAPPENED TO ME. BUT I QUESTIONED THE BANK AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FRAUD. SO THEY HAD TO KEEP THE CHECK WHICH WAS FINE WITH ME I DIDNT WANT IN ANY KIND OF TROUBLE. MINE WAS FROM MOUNTAIN DEW!!!
EXACT SCAM RECEIVED TWO CHECKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1850 JUST WHEN I WAS SENDING MY DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE NOW IM OUT OF $2000 INCLUDING BANK FEES. AVOID CALLER 970-514-4174
& EMAIL FROM abigailkdt@gmail.com they tell you the check for the Ad program has been delivered with this tracking #9470101699320008068209 from USPS please get back to me once cashed so we can arrange for wrapping.
I just got the Pyramid Breweries e-mail yesterday. It’s the same scam as everyone else has described. I just hope that others see these posts before they become victims, too.
Hello – just wanted to add our experience to this list. Beware of Christian Phantom (chris.phanton234@gmail.com) offering Auto Wrap for Pyramid Breweries (a legitimate company). Same old scam – sent a check for $1950, you take $400 and send the balance to Cabello Martin in Chicago, IL. They sent a check drawn on a local NJ bank, so I called the bank, found out that the check was fradulent (surprise, surprise) and am collecting everything to take to the local Police Staton.
Thank you for this website! It saved us from a $2000 loss!!
Hello, This Scam has now made its way down to New Zealand (christchurch) where they are going as far posting advertising in the newspaper then following up by email communication. – I am currently waiting for the “check” via courier. It should be interesting to see what my bank has to say/is willing to do when I bring this “check” to their attention.
Just got one from mark.steve1980@gmail.com posing under the name Mark Trinidad with Monster energy drink. I immediately decide to research and found this post. I’m an actor/model so I’ve seen scams similar to this one where they “book” you for a shoot and supposedly pay you in advance by sending you a check, you take out your portion, and wire the rest to the “photographer” that’s coming to do the shoot for your. You all are right. People will do anything for money these days. Whatever happened to earning your keep.
I just received such an offer for Red Bull. I nearly fell for it. I decided to do a little research and found this. Thank you. You saved my ass. I am off work because I am ill. I am not getting any money as there was no insurance from my employer. I thought as I travelled to the city frequently for doctors appointments and hospital visits I could earn a little money to pay for the gas. Well there goes that idea. I would have been nice but like most things if it is to good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Thanks for posting this. It’s probably better that you did something about it rather than the cops who are probably not interested. Too much work for them. Take care. -Brian in Canada
I just got one too…from Emilio Armando
Email Address: armandemilio@hotmail.com
THE CONCEPT
We seek people who are regular citizens,not professional drivers to go about their daily routine as they usually do,only with an advert of any of the companies whose products we are advertising pasted on their car.
Our company is one of the most innovative London based advertising agency with clients all over the world.We have a growing target to advertise so many products for a number of companies mostly in the USA, UK and some parts of EUROPE.Our team of advertising experts are also spread around these locations to ensure that thorough customer satisfaction is actualized.
The advertisements are typically Full throttle,also known as “AutoWraps, CarWraps,advertising on your car”. The painting advert will be on your vehicle as a sticker or embossment and which will cover any small 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 Autowraps tend to be colorful and eye-catching and attract lots of attention while embossed on your car.Also,it’s a form of advertising with a captive audience,this means people who are stuck in traffic can’t avoid seeing the wrapped car alongside.This program will last for 3 months and the minimum period you can participate is 1 month.
You will be compensated with a sum of $500 (Five Hundred dollars per Week),which is essentially an advertisement “rental” payment for letting our company use the space on your car.
We shall provide experts that will handle the advert placement on your car.Before the advert,the experts will also ensure that your car is in good order in terms of the overall appearance and if not,they will fix whatever problem it has. You will receive an upfront payment of $500 (Five hundred dollars) for accepting to carry this advert on your car and other weekly payments.
If you are interested in this offer kindly fill out the questionnaire below:
Send the required below Information:
Full Name:
Age:
Occupation:
Make of car/ year:
Exterior Color of Car:
Address:
city:
State:
Zip code:
Home Phone Number:
Cell Phone Number:
Email Address:
We shall be contacting you as soon as we receive these information.We look forward to working with you soonest.
Regards.
I just received the “Ryan Simmons” email for NOS energy drink. First of all if he worked for them he would have an email address from Nos, not hotmail. Second of all he wouldn’t be a hiring manager, he would be a marketing company that they hired to advertise for them. With that being said, I too replied to the initial email thinking the money would be nice. :-(
Nobody’s mentioned it here yet, but if you get one of these actual checks or money orders from a scammer through the US Postal Service mail, report it to the Postmaster General. They take more of an interest in mail fraud than your local donut cops do. That’s why so many scammers will send the check FedEx, which is way more expensive than US mail… they know FedEx won’t attempt to track or prosecute, and they know enough not to tangle with an agency that has teeth.
Hey All,
Had the same scam with Red Bull, but they are not sending a check they want my paypal account name so they can send the money there. Any thoughts?
I wonder what would happen if you took that to a check cashing place & cashed it. I have one sitting on my kitchen counter as we speak (same scam, I too just wanted to see what would happen so followed through with it).
I also recieved an email from a gentleman named Enes claiming he was from Rockstar energy drink wanting to wrap my car they claim to be sending me $400 plus the fee to wire to the wrap people I’m awaiting the check to which I’m taking to the police dept. .Thank you for this thread so I knew not to get scammed I’m sorry you guys fell trapped to this but hopefully we can all get these scammed caught:)
Thank you for the info! I was just scammed by “John Cook” He used REAL company names like ICON CREATIVE DESIGN and Hiring supervisor, ZipFizz Energy Drink®. So I called ZipFizz and they told me car wraps in their company name are scams. People, if it’s too good to be true, it’s NOT true!!! He was to send me $3,500. Okay, I did my homework. I was replying to his craigslist posting for a receptionist… and his offer came in. Guess he’s going after the unemployed because they need the money. Pass the word! Oh, he had a nice touch with, “have a blessed day”. Hope he gets his blessing too!
I received an email from Daniel Miller the “hiring manager” of Monster Inc….We corresponded back in forth via email but here is the jist or part of the email that matters:
Here are the instructions to follow:
*You are to get the check deposited in your bank account once you recieve it
and get back to me once you have the check deposited
*Withdraw your week payment which is 300$ and take 100$ for your running around
*Locate a western union outlet around you and get 2400$ wired via western union money transfer (service to use: money in minutes)
to the decal information below
Name:Anthony Colon
state: Istanbul
city: Istanbul
Country: Turkey
The check is from:
HDW Partners Lp
DBA Harley Davidson of Waco
4201 S.Jack Kultgen Freeway
Waco, TX 76706
BUT WAIT..THERE’S MORE!…the envelope the check came in was Priority Mail Express 2-Day from:
Augusta Mall
3450 Wrightsboro Rd
Augusta, GA 30909
I’m so glad I didn’t go any further with this, but I’m not sure what to do with the check neither. I’m sure “Daniel” will be emailing me again soon, asking me to Western Union the money. If law enforcement is out the question, I may look into this further on my own. I really do not want this to happen to anyone, ever.
I received a cashiers check from C-E federal credit union 7002 fauna
Houston Texas 77061. But got a contract agreement from 300 west 145th street,
New York,New York 10039
(647)795-2125
The check was for 2547.70 I was like wow but I started looking in to it before I did anything with the check and I found this website, thank god,the guys name was Ermac, had an accent like a middle Eastern
Thanks for posting about this scam!
I received the same email and offer from a goldberg.anthony84@yahoo.com
Almost took the bait. The Yahoo email address was also suspicious.
Carlos
Got an email for a SK Energy car wrap. Promised me $300 weekly. Same put on everyone else has been getting.
Thanks for the thoughtfulness in putting your experiences to the public.
I’ll add a heads up below on the “person” who contacted me…perhaps using a pseudo name. My kindest advice, please take heed to the additionally mentioned comments that these checks are fake. If you have deposited the check already and your bank made the funds available to you, DO NOT DO THE WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM, OR ANY OTHER TAMPERING WITH THE FUNDS YOUR BANK MAY HAVE MADE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO YOU. THERE IS A 3-4 DAY CLEARING TIMEFRAME THAT THE BANK HAS TO VERIFY THE FUNDS. WITHIN THAT WINDOW IS WHEN THE SCAMMERS WANT YOU TO SEND THE “MONEY” TO ANOTHER STATE OR COUNTRY! If you’ve done the wire…and have yet to email the MTCN to the scammers…immediately call Western Union back to cancel the wire transfer! That is your thread of redemption to save your bank account funds from being lost to scammers. Read below…
Jason,
Thanks for the update. However, there’s been a slight update. Report has it that Mr. Ronghua LI is currently not on seat. However, Below is the Graphic Artist Western Union Transfer Details to send the Money to:
Graphic Artist Head Office Rep. Receiver’s Information:
NAME: LONGJUN ZHAN
ADDRESS: 87-2 SANLITUN ROAD
CITY: CHANGYANG
STATE: BEIJING
COUNTRY: CHINA
EMAIL: skwrap@graphic-designer.com
Kindly get back with the information below once the transfer has been completed.
MTCN Number & Total Amount Sent
Do not hesitate to email or call me if you require additional information. Acknowledge receipt of this email immediately.
I’ll be waiting for your swift response.
Best Regards,
Glen Hovey
SK Energy Drink®
Ph:+1 702-329-2020
Fax: +1 702-537-5695
In the beginning of April 2014 I sent my resume to a local company for an Administrative/Receptionist Position that was available, being new to the area I jumped on the opportunity. I received the following e-mail from amberjones234@outlook.com
“Hello there,
Thanks responding to the job post advert. I received your email with interest in the position posted but unfortunately that position is taken but I have a smaller offer for you if interested. I want to believe and hope I am dealing with an honest, responsible person because I usually would not hire anyone this way but I urgently need the services of a Personal Assistant due to my very busy schedules.
My name is Amber Jones, an Interior Designers, Decorators & Art collector with a large client base and because of my job I’m constantly out of the State. My former Personal Assistant just got married and moved to Canada. If you accept my offer, I will need you to take charge of my mail pick ups and drop off’s as well as errand running during your spare time outside of work. The job is flexible so you can do it wherever you are as long as there is a post office in the area. I will pay for the first week in advance to run any errands, and will also have my mails/packages forwarded to a nearby post office where you can pick them from at your convenience.
All errands will be in your city/town so it is not a must you have a car, but if you do it might be a plus. When you get my mails/packages, you will be required to mail them to where I want them mailed too. The content of the packages will be business and personal mails. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me and you are to work for just 2 days per week (4 hours daily). You will be doing this for 3 weeks until I get back to town so we can formally meet and discuss about the possibility of making this arrangement long term if I’m satisfied with your performance.
How much will you charge per week? Am willing to pay $300 weekly including gas and others expenses. That is not a bad offer is it? If you accept this offer please reply with the following details:
Full Name, Physical/Residential contact address, Apt #, City, State, Zip Code, Cell number, Home number, Current Occupation and Available hours.
I will be needing your service immediately, so once the information above is received, I will request your first week payment be mailed to you along with the pay to run errands for me.
Kindly get back soon and have a nice weekend.
Regards,
Amber Jones.”
Being out of work, again I told her my information and including that I now have open availability to help being a full time student.
“Amber” sent me the information I was seeking to start this new job in the following message:
” Good Morning Ashley,
Thanks getting back swiftly and expediency is one of the major qualities I am looking for in my Personal Assistant. Presently, Am in Hong-Kong attending an art exhibition and will be travelling to China next week to import interior decoration materials.
You have been approved of the position and will be starting work this week. A payment will be mailed to you and it should deliver within the next 2 – 3 business day. After receiving the payment, you will have it processed at your bank. The payment will include your weekly pay and the rest will be used to carry out your first assignment.
After checking my files, your first assignment will be running an errands to few orphanage homes which i do twice every month. You will be purchasing some stuffs for the kids at the orphanage home at any stores close to you and will have them mailed to the respective orphanage address which will be provided to you later.
I will email you more information about the check delivery and will use the week to test your efficiency.
Hope to read back from you soon to confirm you received my email and you can text me on (806) 337-0805.
Regards,
Amber Jones.”
“Amber” sent me the tracking number: 94701016993200074847 -WITH A $100.00 guarantee on the shipment of the check in the amount of $1,985.00 – and told me to text/e-mail communication giving me “her number” – (806) 337-0805
She even e-mailed me after this message to ensure I was not to spend any money on the gifts for the Orphanage in Garland, TX until I received her descriptive break down of how the money is to be used.
After receiving this check, depositing it, the next morning it “cleared” with my bank.
amberjones234@outlook.com sent :
Titled : “New Development!!!”
“Good Morning Ashley,
How was your night? I hope pleasant! I just received an email from the Orphanage home that the shopping should not be done at this moment because a 5 year old girl needs an urgent surgery and they are urgently seeking funds to save her life. After discussing with them, they requested the funds must be sent today.
You will deduct your $300 weekly pay and you will as well be making use of $126 as the transfer charges. then proceed to the outlets to have $1,558 sent to the information below and has to be split in 2 parts,meaning you will send $1,000 via western union and $558 in another western union outlet (money in minutes) because they said he cant pick the money in whole..Make sure its sent in 2 Different outlets and it is also the easiest and fastest way to get the money across to them.
Western Union Information of the Orphanage Home:
Name: Obadiah N Swaffer
Address: 410 Gloria Dr
Garland, Texas 75042
Please, after the transfer email me this info:
– Sender’s Full Name and Address.
– Secret question and answer (if any)
– Actual Amount sent – $1,558
-Control # (10 digits)
– Transfer charges:
You’ll also be given a receipt after sending the money which will provide to me on my arrival. Further assignments to be completed this week will be sent before the end of the week.
Kindly treat as urgent and I will await your response.”
When I read this my immediate mother nurturing side told me “HURRY!!!!”, then I questioned it, what if this is a scam?
The next thought determined my actions, I had put “her” check in my account, if I back out now, she will probably get the law involved..
So I sent the money, sent her the information.
The next week Tuesday morning, she actually had the nerve to text me and ask me to send the money that was suppose to be my “payment” to the Orphange home for the little girl who needed the surgery as they still needed more.
I told her I had already put it towards my bills, and that I WAS SORRY.. lmao
Next day, check bounced.
She took the only $20 I had to my name on top of the “payment” I was suppose to receive.
On top of all, my bank adds the check bouncing fees and extended overdraft fees while I continue to live out of my car, and scrounge for food on a day to day basis.
After having reported this incident to the bank, the police, the IC3, and Craigslist with no luck.
SINCE THEN, while of course looking for a job/housing I’ve taken the liberty to attracted more scammers to “waste their time and money” as para the local law enforcement :)
JOHNNIE WALKER DRINK ADVERTISING is my newest adventure. They’ve already sent me two checks, wasting their money, checks, and time. (two weeks in the making, looking at another two weeks minimum:D)
ALWAYS GO WITH YOUR GUT INSTINCT! If the easy money sounds to good to be true, it usually is.
Good luck all
I hope having posted this that someone searching Amber Jones, or amberjones234@outlook.com will find !
Got my check yesterday from Samsung. looks like they are moving up in the world. think I will tell them my dog ate the check and see if they will send me another 1.
I just received an email today from Jamie Hanks “$300 a week for NOS Energy Car wrap?” from email rashedsum@hotmail.com. I’m sure this is a scam. I did apply for a car wrap a while ago. But after reading this I will not be responding. Thanks for all the info.
I got caught up with this same scam from a c.florens81@gmail.com. I never authorized this but was ask in an earlier email the make and year of my car and my name and address. The next email was that they sent me a $2000 check and for me to wire $900 to a Ashley lintez in Pontiac Michigan. I am turning my check over to my local police and forwarding same to the FBI
I’m just now getting nailed by Paul Nolan for PowerAde. After reading all this great information, I too am just going to screw with him. Thanks to everybody for writing in. As with all above, my email from Paul read verbatim as everybody else’s. What a world we live in.
So there are many postings on here saying
**Earn $20+/hour making on-demand -track/ car/vehicle drive** as the title
and when you open the ad it says make 300-400 dollars per week by driving around with an advert on your car. They ask for your address, send you a text from a gmail number that can’t be called and tell you they sent you an overnight check. They tell you to cash it or deposit it in the bank and you’ll actually receive it to find a bogus senders name/address, bogus company name on the check, an amount between $1900-$2850 and be told to deduct your first weeks payment then western union the rest to their “professional” who will “wrap your car”. Here is an example of an e-mail they will send:
“How are you doing today. Am writing you to let you know that the payment has been issued out and will be deliver to you Today via FedEx Service. Inside the package you have a check of $1950.45” (was actually $2850, but they copy and paste the same e-mail) “sent by a client of ours. Here is the FedEx tracking #: 786608410******. I want you to take the payment to your bank and deposit it, withdraw the expert fund immediately, you are to deduct $400 for the 1st week ADVERT job the company offered you and you will have $1550.45 left. I want you to send $1400.45 via western union to the Expert that will decorate your car and use the remaining $150 for western union ‘money in a min’ charges. Your next pay check arrives a week later.(western union stores are located at Foodlions, Krogers and Pubix stores).
Here is the Expert info.
===
Name: Penny Albaugh
Address: 1102 Truman Ave,
City: Hondo
State: TX
Zip Code: 78861
You are expected to have this done on TODAY and email us back with the following information so the expert can make an arrangement on your car and arrive to you within 48 hours.
(Note: A closer representative will be sent to your home)
1. Name and Address of Sender:
2. Money Transfer Control Number:
3. Amount Wired:
Thanks and God bless”
That’s their scam e-mail above and the e-mails they will contact you from are:
csgrant3305@gmail.com & webbkate3@gmail.com and go by the name Paul Jones and the number I was being texted from and called from was not legit, it was a Google e-mail phone number that can’t be called back and it was 720 443 2813. An Arab buy who could barely speak English called, when I lied and said I cashed the check just to see if he would actually call, claiming to be Paul Jones and when I told him I knew it was a scam and that I contacted the other company on the check asking about it and they said it was fraud, he hung up right away.
but they are probably changing their e-mail addresses every day.
They will keep sending you bogus checks with different company names and addresses on them to try and get you to cash them and send it to them so DO NOT cash their checks or attempt to- rip them up immediately any time you receive one. Otherwise you will be caught up with fraud with your bank if you try to deposit it or the check cashing institution you go to will call the police as they are aware of these scams.
Do not fall for these ads. Any place that requires you to pay to become an employee, sign up for a trial to become an employee, pays commission only or residual income is most likely a scam or an ponzi scam. Keep your information safe!!!!!