What: Carvertise allows you to turn your car into a rolling billboard, but watch for fraud
Expected pay: $100 month
Husl $core: $$$
Where: National
Requirements:Â
- Drive at least 30 miles a day
- Have a clean driving record.
- Own a 2008 model car or newer
- Have a factory finish paint job.
Rating:
Carvertise essentially allows you to rent out the outside of your car for advertising. Like Wrapify, all you need to do for this money-making opportunity is have a long commute in some city where advertisers might want to have rolling billboards.Â
Because that billboard won’t get a lot of eyeballs parked in your garage, you need to drive a lot to make it worth the advertiser’s while. The company will wrap (and unwrap) your car and pay you a monthly stipend for as long as the campaign lasts.
Carvertise differs from Wrapify in its payment formula, however. Carvertise generally pays a set amount per month; Wrapify varies the amount based on the number of miles you drive. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a campaign, however. And when you do get one, it typically will last for just a few months – usually one to 6 months. So, this is more a way to defray your auto expenses than a way to earn a living.
Carvertise gets a slightly lower rating than Wrapify mainly because some drivers have complained that their cars were damaged when the wrap was removed.Â
A company called MyFreeCar offers a nearly identical service (with a slightly different pay formula). If this type of side hustle suits you, there’s no downside to signing up with all three services. Indeed, since offers don’t come around every day, signing up for all three services puts you in a better position to get a gig. What if you get competing offers? Congrats! Naturally, pick the one that pays best. But pay attention to our fraud warning below.
If someone is offering to pay way more than what we’ve estimated here — or pay with a big upfront check — you’re likely dealing with a ruthless scammer. The fake check scams they’re pulling can cost you thousands of dollars. Be careful.
Fraud Warning:
One more caution: A new scam involves crooks pretending to work for this company (or one of its competitors), promising huge pay-outs to consumers who sign up. They then send these same consumers big checks that FAR EXCEED the amount promised, telling them to deposit the whole amount and send the balance to another entity. This is a fake check scam. And by the time your bank discovers the forgery, the crook will be long gone and you will be on the hook for the entire amount of the fake check. DO NOT DEPOSIT these checks. Legitimate companies — including Carvertise and Wrapify — do not expect you to be their payment intermediary. For more about this con, check out this story at CBS News.
What their drivers say:Â
“Overall, everything was fine with this company until damages occurred to my car as a result of them removing the wrap incorrectly from my car. It’s been 2 weeks and no resolution has been offered to fix my car. It’s very disappointing since they clearly have had similar issues with previous drivers. You guys should have a speedier process in place for fixing damages. People shouldn’t have to expose you on social media for a remedy when you are at fault, and it definitely shouldn’t take 2 plus weeks!”
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I was just scammed by someone posing as Carvertise. They sent me a check for $2600 and then had me send it to someone else. They claimed they were you. They had all your information and sounded so authentic. The person whom they had me send the money to was a Richard Anthony of Brooklyn, NY and a Carolyn Cosentino in Hobbs NM. Just though you might like to know.
I just received a check for $1950. With similar instructions. Essentially, deposit the check and wait about 24 hours until it supposedly clears and then pay the person that does the wrapping
What is bothering me is there is no paperwork to sign and I sent them an email about how does one declare taxes. After reading this I am suspecting a scam. I wonder what would happen if I deposit the check and refuse to send money to wrapper until I am sure it has completely cleared (several days not hours). I suspect they can not come after me if there are no legal documents.
Susan, I would encourage you to tear up the check. Fake checks like these can take weeks — or months — to discover. At that point, the bank reverses the credit and can go after you for the fraud. The situation you have described is definitely a scam — and an expensive one. I urge you to step away.
i would hang onto the check. make sure u write FRAUD or VOID in bold lettering / permanent marker across the check but this happened to me and i was advised by someone i know that works for the government to tear and toss, and i regret it. bc when i came across what to do in these kinds of scam / fraudulent situations and having a paper trail to submit to the BBB and/or the courts should there be a follow up investigation is always more helpful than just your word of mouth telling them about the scam. evidence always helps 1. bring it to an end (hopefully) 2. find out where it’s actually coming from 3. holding the fraudsters accountable if they’re able to be tracked down … but they can’t be found if there’s nothing to point in their direction! throwing it away is a fine choice but in order for someone who wants to take action against this kind of sh*t$y behavior / criminal activity continuing, definitely hang onto whatever you received and definitely forward photos or scans of the documents to wherever you end up reporting it to or filing a complaint with (i suggest the BBB their website makes it very simple to report this kind of stuff, but check with your local government and municipality and see whether or not there might be somewhere else that can also help)
DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK!!! It will clear either immediately or within 24hrs but after you withdraw the funds it will bounce within a week and the bank will hold you liable for the entire amount of the check plus bounce fees etc!!! Take it to your local PD and report it to the bank fraud investigation unit!!!
No they cannot but they WILL try to convince you they will. For obvious reasons they wouldn’t pursue legal action unless they want to risk being arrested themselves. In your particular situation it would make no sense to send money to someone wrapping the car because you could give it to them in person since you have to bring the car there. This is how you know it is a scam. They would never risk you meeting an actual person or they would be too easy to track and/or arrest that way.
If you ever want to know you can always call the bank that the check is made out to.
I’m talking with the bank who issued the check I called them and they told me to check was good so I’m going to get down to the bottom of this because I’m fixing to see who approved this check why the bank is allowing this to happen because it’s have to be a inside job. So I’m dealing with my bank and the bank that issued the check I’m on this
I didn’t get scammed but I did receive one of those checks so now I’m dealing with both Banks to see what’s going on
I was ripped off by Carvertise. I was considering trading my car in. I called to inquire about the necessary steps I would have to take IF I decided to cancel the campaign early. They took me out of the system that day. I wasn’t paid for April, May or June. I called to inquire about my payments. I was told someone would look into it and call me back. They never did. In June I decided I would definitely trade my car in. I called to inquire about my missing payments and to have the wrap removed. They told me I would have to pay $150 early termination fee and someone would call me to schedule an appointment to have it removed. I asked them to take the fee out of the money they owed me, they said, no. I sent the money, no one called. The end of June, I called to inquire about my missing payments and let them know I had to trade the car with the wrap still on it. They said they needed proof that I still had the car in June. I sent them proof of the day I traded the car. I haven’t heard from them. Now I am going to file a complaint against this company.
I would not recommend this company to anyone. Either they are unorganized or they are shady. I am out of $450.00 for riding around with that ugly wrap on my car. Not worth it.
Carvertise doesn’t send you a check right away. You have to drive for a month. Then they will direct deposit your money. They pay the wrap business themselves.
I just received a check from “Carvertise” for $3850.00. Wow, right? Too bad it was fake. It came priority mail from a Noel Barrie. An address check revealed a simple home.
The check was from Turner Machine Company, but a search revealed incorrect logo, though I called them and the number on the check was authentic ( waiting a callback).
However, the visual address on the check does not match the actual company site.
The accompanying letter is full of poor Grammer and punctuation, and only give smd contact info, wanting a copy of my deposit slip.
I suspect fraud and am contacting local and federal authorities. Is this the right thing to do?
Yes, Chris! You got it exactly right. If you check with Carvertise, I’m sure they will verify that they never send checks in advance.
Addendum… I have been running the app for two months now, but no word from Carvertise. How long do I wait before I just delete it and move on?
Hi Chris. There’s no standard time that it takes to get a campaign. It depends on where you live; where you drive; how much you drive; and whether there’s an advertiser looking in your neighborhood. There’s no downside to remaining signed up, but don’t expect an immediate hit.
i was on wrapify for well over a year before they finally contacted me. unfortunately i had just resigned with different company and was unable to accept a campaign with them. just wait it can eventually happen and just keep checking in on the app frequently.
Wow that really sucks.. Some humans are awful
I am trying Wrapify this month because I drive a lot of miles to work, I will let you know how it goes. I still have not gotten any offers because, it’s been a few days since I started, and yes is not your year salary but, it’s extra income.
I tried to do reality but the app isn’t showing my driving History
NEVER EVER put those checks in your account. Scammers will wipe your account OUT. If you can, contact the bank the check is drawn on. Ask them to verify the check is good then ask them to put a hold on the check until it clears.
Do these companies care about how much prior damage you already have on your car…. My car is new enough for thier requirements but it has ALOT of damage already on it, basically i got damage on the front back and both sides… So i dont care if they damage it and am willing to sign a waiver releasing them of responsibility if it is damaged… I saw one co wont approve cars if older then 2008 so they must care about how it looks u think?
The cars are generally expected to be in excellent outward condition.
Yes, they will ask if your car has any damage.
I already deposited the check into my account for similar situations, I notified my bank that it may be fraudulent, and I keep blowing off the “rep” who keeps texting me and demanding I mail off the money orders to the 3rd party to which I have stopped answering his text all together. What should I do now?
Maybe block the crook’s phone number? Otherwise, you’re fine. My guess is that your bank will get back to you in the next week or so and reverse whatever credit they gave you for the check.
Yes I talk deeply with my bank and they said don’t do nothing for 10 days let that money sit there and they said long as I don’t spend it it won’t mess up my account and they’ll keep me posted but thinking back now I truly believe it’s a scam thank God I didn’t get scammed. That check is in my account but I ain’t spending it and after the 10 days the bank said they’ll just get rid of it and it won’t hurt me thank you Jesus
You did the right thing. Something similar happened to me..I told the guy the bank was verifying funds & as soon as I knew for certain it was legitimate, I would send funds…I also told them their phone number was given to federal agents when I found out the check was fraudulent…they stopped contacting me. When a new number contacted me, I told them I’d forward the information to federal agents as well…no more freaks contacting me. 😄
I received 3 fake checks from a Larry, I think last name is B. I deposited the first one on a Tuesday. On Friday, my account became negative because of the check. I called my bank and I was told that they sent the check back because it wasn’t good. The bank made my account positive again. Larry emailed to say the check was processed, so we have the next step. I told him the check was fake and my bank sent it back. I said, I don’t want fake checks. He never responded. I tore up the other 2 checks.
Scammers tried to get me the same way! Cash and get gift cards an money order to pay them. I knew it was suspicious wanting me go 3 different locations.I reported it immediately, but u did right thing telling bank to hold it until it clears. U need block the pol. Calling u. I awnsered an told them what I did, an knew it was a scam. I see it everyday, because I work for elderly. It makes me sick! After I told them I reported them I never heard from them again.
Wat if they tell u to deposit it then let them no once I have access the check is for 4,850 but iam post to give some of that to who ever comes out to put the add on my car
If they’re telling you that, you’re dealing with a crook, not Carvertise. Rip up the check. Throw it away. Or, alternatively, give it to your local consumer fraud enforcement office. This may be part of your state attorney general’s office. if you tell the scammer that you’ve done that, I guarantee you they’ll disappear quickly.
I have done Carvertise for around 2 years. For a while they were ok. I was told at one point that all their campaigns paid only $100. Earlier in March I reluctantly accepted a 6 month extension with them for the campaign I was currently with, several months l noticed I had not been paid, so I called to find out why. Evidently I had missed an email to verify I still had the wrap on and sent them the photos quickly. The contract was suppose to end in September, but since they did not get the photos til May they extended it til December without informing me. When September came around I called them to schedule the unwrap I was informed that my contract wasn’t up until December. After lengthy discussion, I was told that they would schedule the unwrap. A few days later I call back and am told that they no longer have a business to do the job. I made a comment to my daughter saying “you watch they are going to drag this out to December” and sure enough that is exactly what they did. My car was unwrapped yesterday and I spoke to the people when the job was finished and surprisingly enough, they asked me if i had a number to get a hold of one of the departments (the accounts payable I believe) because they had not been paid from a previous job. I simply told them that I will never work for this company again and gave them the name of a better competitor. So that “possibility” of $350-$1500 I believe is a lie from what they told me.
On a side note about scams – scams will try to send you a check for you to deposit into your bank and them schedule the wrap yourself and then wire them the excess money back so the wrap would be something not costing $3000+ so a very small wrap. NEVER do this as a reputable company will already have shops in your area contracted for this service and would be paid directly from the Advertising company. These are my experiences personally and if you choose to go forward do so cautiously and if something doesn’t feel right or strange don’t take a leap of faith.
Carvertise is a legit company, they pay for the wrap and the removal, there is no sending checks and you have to find an installer. Carvertise sends the proposed wrap design it is created by the installer and removed by the installer. This process should be effortless as you are making them money and as a business they should be making this effortless for you. If ANY company sends you a check to do this all yourself they are either not legit or not worth your time and effort.