Fake Courier Job & Reshipping Scams on WhatsApp
Fraudsters use WhatsApp to recruit unwitting workers as reshipping mules, presenting the role as a legitimate parcel-handling job while using victims to move stolen goods or launder fraud proceeds.
Part of: Fake Courier Job Reshipping Scams (Parcel Mules)
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Reshipping scams on WhatsApp begin with a job offer that sounds straightforward: receive packages at home, repackage them, and forward them to an address provided by the 'employer'. The recruiter communicates entirely through WhatsApp, presenting an official-looking job contract and promising weekly pay.
In reality, the packages contain goods purchased with stolen credit cards or the victim is receiving and forwarding cash obtained through other fraud. The victim becomes an unwitting participant in a criminal supply chain, and may face legal consequences when the fraud is traced back to their address.
How this scam works on WhatsApp
A WhatsApp message arrives from a recruiter claiming to represent a logistics or import-export company. The job requires no experience, offers flexible hours, and promises payment per parcel processed. The recruiter sends a formal-looking 'employment agreement' via WhatsApp and asks the victim to confirm their home address for deliveries.
Packages begin arriving — often high-value electronics or jewellery purchased with stolen cards. The victim repacks them and posts them to foreign addresses as instructed, receiving partial payment early on to build trust. When the stolen card fraud is detected, the parcels are traced to the victim's address.
Some variants involve cash: the victim receives bank transfers from fraud victims, withdraws the cash, and sends it via money transfer services as directed — classic money-mule behaviour dressed as a logistics job.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited WhatsApp job offer for a work-from-home parcel forwarding or reshipping role
- Employer communicates only through WhatsApp and never via a verifiable company website or email
- Request for your home address before any formal interview or background check
- Payment described as per-parcel rather than a standard hourly or monthly wage
- Packages arriving from unknown senders addressed to you personally
- Instructions to forward parcels internationally or to multiple different addresses
- Early partial payment designed to build trust before larger shipments arrive
How to protect yourself
- Verify any employer through official company registration databases before accepting a job
- Never provide your home address to a recruiter you have only spoken to on WhatsApp
- Refuse any job that requires receiving parcels at home and forwarding them to third parties
- Research the company name and phone number independently — do not rely on links sent via WhatsApp
- Report suspicious job offers to your national labour authority and fraud reporting centre
- Cease all activity and seek legal advice immediately if you have already participated
How to report it
- Report the WhatsApp number to WhatsApp using the in-app 'Report' function
- Contact your national fraud authority and provide screenshots of the job offer and any messages
- If you have already forwarded parcels, report to your local police immediately
Frequently asked questions
Can I be prosecuted for unknowingly reshipping stolen goods?
Authorities may investigate anyone whose address was used to receive or forward stolen goods, even if they were not aware of the fraud. If you suspect you have been used as a reshipping mule, stop immediately and report to your local police and national fraud authority.