Over the last week I have learned an important life lesson.
Last week on Facebook, in a respectable group, there was a post about earning money to wrap your car with Pepsi stuff. I thought cool, I love Pepsi and can always use extra money. They asked for our mailing address to send the first payment of 300 dollars. Seemed legit, my dad had worked for Pepsi for years, so I trusted it.
Then Friday, I get an email saying I would be getting the check the next day. I was to immediately deposit the check. But this check was going to be for 1950.78 dollars. I was to keep 300. And western union 1500 dollars to a man in California. This made me leery.
I responded with why am I supposed to wire money to someone. He said it was for the decal people. I said I wanted proof that this was a legit advertising campaign. He simply said this was not a scam.
Sooooooo, I followed my gut, and advice of my friends. I googled it. Well turns out this Pepsi car wrap thing is a common scam. I again emailed him asking for proof. He just bounced around the question.
I looked up the company that the check was written on, they are a huge investment company out of Boston. I emailed them. I emailed Pepsi.
Yesterday he emailed me that I just need to deposit the check, if it’s not real the bank wont deposit. Okay, I am not that stupid.
This morning, I called the issuing bank. Which is in Boston. The lady was very nice. She asked for the acct number. And the check number. She said that this acct only issues electronic checks and this one was never issued. I thanked her for her help.
Texted John and called the cops.
The police said this scam is very very common. That Pepsi is not involved, but also a victim. Because their name is dragged into it. And said that company the check supposedly came from is most likely not involved.
The police officer said that the guy in the email most likely is not in the USA. And that the address I was to wire money to was a middle man who would then send OUR money overseas. Of course once the check would be declared false, our account would be massively in the hole.
I am grateful that God gave me the good sense to not fall for it. I can see how people do though, When you are hurting for money and someone says they have a nice easy way to earn a bit, duh it’s tempting.
The emails which I will keep for now are from a man named Andrew Billian. The check was issued by State Street Bank in Boston MA. And it was mailed from the University of California.
Since there is nothing legally to be done about these scammers. I felt bringing attention to it via blog was a good way to spread the word.
Looking at a check for 1900 dollars is nice. But it’s not worth the risk. Never accept a check from someone you dont know. Or a company you are not involved with. If your gut tells you something is wrong, it probably is right. It never hurts to check things out. It was very easy to find the bank and company on the check. And very easy to email Pepsi. Follow your instincts. Dont fall for this crap. I almost did.
katiehunter2001 