If you own a car, you’re used to spending money. Even for those who were enlightened enough to buy the hybrid before these inflationary times, you’re still dealing with routine maintenance, insurance, and that unexpected broken air conditioner.

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, some drivers are turning inventive—they’re seeking out rewards programs at the gas pump, arranging more carpooling, or hopping on the bike.

But there is one route that absolutely won’t save you money: falling for the Bud Light car advertising scam. Here’s what happened, and how to avoid similar scams.

Car advertising: a passive income strategy

Have you ever been driving down the street and noticed that the Honda in the lane next to you is covered in pictures and words that are wholly unrelated to its family of origin?

The owner of this Civic is probably not doing an unusual art project; instead, she’s making a bit of extra cash by transforming her car into what

Forbes

calls a “rolling billboard.”

Car advertising, in and of itself, is a perfectly legitimate way to make a little extra cash. In fact, it’s one common suggestion for making passive income, along with renting your car or home.

Forbes reports that certain sites, such as Free Car Media and Wrapify, act as middlemen for combining drivers with companies seeking advertising services.

Once matched up with a company, a newly deployed civilian-turned-advertiser adds a wrap or a decal to her car. Now that old Subaru is a major potential moneymaker for the company.

And she might look a little goofy parking on Main Street, but she’ll get the last laugh: relinquishing a normal paint job can be lucrative to the tune of hundreds of extra dollars a month, depending on the company.

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…but beware of scams

All life hacks are ripe for exploitation by bad actors, and car advertising proved to be no exception. In 2018,

ABC 11

reported on a man named Charles Lakey who received an email from someone who claimed to represent Budweiser.

Enticingly titled “Paid to Drive,” the email presented Lakey with an opportunity to wrap his car in Budweiser-themed vinyl and earn cash for his advertising services.

But this wasn’t all there was to the bargain. After replying to the email, he was sent a check for $1900. He was told to cash it, keep $450, and send the remainder back to “Budweiser.” Lakey, wise to the scammers’ tricks by this point, did not comply.

Two years later, a Florida woman named Nancy Cabrera was on the receiving end of a similar ploy.

First Coast News

reported that she received a $2550 check in the mail after offering her advertising services.

Cabrera, like Lakey, immediately began noticing suspicious signs. Addresses didn’t match, and “Bud Light” was rushing her to cash the check as fast as possible.

Plus, she said, the scammers wanted her to take photos or screenshots of the deposit to send to them, including personal banking information. This was enough to stop her car advertising career right then and there.

MORE: What is the Best Car Seat for a 3-Year-Old?

Not the FTC’s first rodeo

The FTC, confirmed First Coast News, has seen this movie before. Scammers will send a check, tell their victims to deposit it, keeping part of the cash, and then wire the rest to a supposed car wrapping company.

Then the victim’s check bounces and the money disappears entirely. The FTC encourages anyone who comes across one of these scams to file a complaint.

If you want to pursue the car advertising path for your passive income, don’t be discouraged. There are plenty of legitimate options. Just be suspicious of anyone who’s rushing you, wants screenshots of personal information or generally seems to be a bit off. Scammers work hard but you can work harder.

Easier than fending off scammers? Getting great car insurance. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the

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