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What You Should Know About A Sticker Scam in Your Email Inbox

A fake car-sticker promotion nearly lures one man from turning over hard-earned cash

Jay Moxley was on the hunt for some extra spending cash. A friend told Jay that he made $300 a month to have his car wrapped. Jay searched the internet for similar offers.

Not long after, Jay received a text. The sender, using a Wisconsin area code, claimed they worked for Miller Lite and if Jay was willing he could make $500 a week just for letting the company put a 15-inch Miller Lite sticker on his car.

“Hi,” began the text message. “Could [sic] you allow MILLER LITE to put a 15” sticker on your BIKE/CAR/TRUCK and get 500 dollars weekly? If your [sic] interested please email me...reply back with (make of car/year) I will reply you back [sic] with full details immediately. Thank (emphasis theirs).”

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A screenshot of the text from Mitchell.

Jay’s initial reaction: “Yes!”

“I thought, ok, it sounds like a way to make a few extra bucks without doing any work. I work hard enough as is so, let’s do it.”

Jay sent a text and told the man who went by the first name of “Mitchell”, that he was ready to roll.

“It sounded pretty legit,” said Jay. “They weren’t asking me for anything. No social security number, no bank information, or anything like that. They just wanted to know about my vehicle.”

“Mitchell” responded, explaining all the details behind the deal.

A professional installer would come to Jay’s La Mesa home to apply the stickers. The company would send Jay a check. The amount would be more than the $500 a week payment. Jay was told to deposit the check, send back the deposit slip as well as a check for the extra money, which would then be used to pay the installer.

Jay said he grew suspicious, especially the part about sending a deposit slip from his bank account. He asked “Mitchell” to speak to him over the phone.

“They texted me again saying I couldn’t call, just to email and to follow the instructions. The more I began to think about it the more it seemed too good to be true.”

A few days later Jay received a check in the mail.

That’s when Jay contacted NBC 7 Responds.

Meanwhile, “Mitchell” pressured Jay to cash the check.

“When will you be doing the deposit?” Asked “Mitchell”. “I'll want you to have it deposited today so the funds will be available either today or tomorrow.”

As Jay continued to receive checks, NBC 7 Responds was busy looking into Mitchell and contacting Miller Coors, the parent company of the Miller Lite brand.

NBC 7 Responds found several scams where people agree to allow companies to put wraps and stickers on their cars but before that happens they receive checks in the mail and deposit them into their accounts. The checks bounce but not before those people send the extra money from the check as well as deposit slips to the sender. Not long after their accounts are drained.

But that is not all.

NBC 7 Responds contacted “Mitchell” using the phone number and email that Jay provided us. “Mitchell” responded claiming to be the “Head of Hiring” for Miller Lite. “Mitchell” has not responded to any questions verifying the promotion.

More importantly, we reached out to Miller Coors. The company told us they had no such promotions at the time. In addition, no person by the name of “Mitchell” was employed by Miller Coors.

While Jay is glad to not become the latest victim in the scam, Jay says the fact these scammers are out there bothers him.

“They are scum,” said Jay. “We work hard for our money, you know. I guess there is always someone that wants to take money from others and I guess they have no conscience or whatever.”

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