There are legitimate companies that pay you to put their logo on your personal vehicle and drive around. I personally don’t know of any, but they tell me they exist. Unfortunately, there are some scams in this business.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reports they are receiving several complaints depicting these scams. Not surprisingly, the offers are made via online ad postings.
To make the offer seem more believable, the fraudsters use the name of well-known companies, such as Coca Cola or Heineken Beer and “sweeten the pot” by offering $400 – $600 per week. Not bad, when supposedly all you have to do is drive around with vinyl advertising signs wrapped around your vehicle.
The offer begins to “unwrap” when they send an up-front payment by cash or money order for more than the promised amount. They ask you to cash the check and wire the “excess” money to a third party whom they say is the graphic designer for the project.
By this time, red flags should be waving for you. Any time you are sent a check or money order and asked to cash it and write a check to send to someone else, it is almost always a scam. Unfortunately, the checks the fraudsters send look so authentic some people do become victims and take a financial loss.
Have you seen offers like this one? Share what you have experienced.
I received one for Hype Energy Drink. These folks are good at the scam, at least until you receive the “certified” check. UPS delivery too. Came from Hawaii, but the check was “written” from a bank in Virginia. Instructed to deposit into my account and send money to two different people through two different wire services.
Now, if you go as far as I did, if you or your bank checks for the watermark on the certified check, you will unlikely find one.
If you follow the scammer’s instructions, you will be out quite a sum of money when the “certified” check doesn’t clear and you have wired money to these folks. The bank holds you responsible for the funds.
The FBI advises people to sever all communication with the scammers. Don’t respond to any of the scammers mails regardless of the threats.
Honest ad-wrap firms have you sign an agreement. These folks don’t.
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I responded to an email for rockstar drink. I was believing it until they said they were sending me a check to cash then western union it out to the party who was putting it on my car! They promised to give me $400 a week for 3 months for putting this on.
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Monster drinks offered my college aged grandkids, $300 a week to advertise the Monster drinks on their vehicles. They were sent a check for $1900 and were told to keep $300 and send the rest to someone in California who will be detailing their logo on their vehicle. Look out people, this is a real scam. They will come back into your bank account and empty it out.
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Heinenken is the new one. I have been getting emails from them saying the same things that you have all posted. Be ware. Thanks. Erik
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They contacted me about a wrap for Rockstar Energy Drinks. They offered to pay me $350 a week. That is pathetic that job offers are even fraudulent. This company should be shut down.
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Received Feb. 27, 2013 with an empty subject
Hello,
We are currently seeking to employ individual’s world wide. How would you like to make money by simply driving your car advertising for SONY PLAY STATION 4.
How it works?
Here’s the basic premise of the “paid to drive” concept: Sony seeks people — regular citizens,professional drivers to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with a big advert for “SONY PLAY STATION 4″ 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.
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 8 months and the minimum you can participate is 1 month.
You will be compensated with $500 per week which is essentially a “rental”payment for letting our company use the space no fee is required from you SONY shall provide experts that would handle the advert placing on your car. You will receive an up front payment of $200 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 contact email along with the following you are interested in these offer.
Full Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip code:
Country:
Age:
Make of car/ year:
Telephone numbers:
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hello, i drive over 12,000 every 6 months. im a perfect fit for this type of work, i drive in 7 differt cities a day for 8 to 10 hours 6 days aweak
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Yep…I got one in the mail. Called the number. Started googling the check credit union..no such check number issued. Telephone number was a Jessica Stone. Contract has New York office and American Ad Agencies Network has no NY office.
SCAM, so sending all my info to the credit union fraud department.
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