Reshipping Mule Scams via Email
How fraudulent 'parcel manager' or 'quality control inspector' job offers delivered by email turn victims into unwitting accomplices in stolen-goods trafficking.
Part of: Reshipping & Money Mule Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Reshipping mule scams recruit victims as middlemen who receive packages at their home address and forward them to a third location — typically overseas. The recruited 'employee' believes they have accepted a legitimate work-from-home logistics role. In reality they are handling merchandise purchased with stolen credit cards, making them an unwitting participant in fraud.
Email is the primary recruitment tool because it allows operators to contact large numbers of people simultaneously, create convincing job documentation, and instruct victims through a plausible onboarding workflow. The job titles used — parcel inspector, reshipping coordinator, warehouse manager — are designed to sound like recognisable roles in a normal company.
Victims face serious legal risk even if unaware of the underlying fraud, because possession and forwarding of stolen goods can constitute a criminal offence in many jurisdictions.
How this scam works on email
A job offer email arrives for a 'package forwarding coordinator' or 'domestic distribution specialist.' The email contains corporate-looking branding, a detailed job description, and a salary structure including a base fee per parcel forwarded. An employment agreement is provided and the victim is onboarded into a fake company system.
Packages begin arriving — often containing electronics, luxury goods, or other high-value items. Instructions arrive by email directing the victim to repackage and ship them to a specific overseas address, sometimes using labels and accounts provided by the employer. Shipping costs may be covered by a fraudulent payment card or the victim may be asked to pay from their own account with a promise of reimbursement.
When the fraud is detected, the victim's home address is the most recent identifiable shipping point, making them the primary suspect.
Common red flags
- Job title involves receiving parcels at your home address and forwarding them elsewhere
- Employer is difficult to locate in any business registry, with no physical office
- Packages contain high-value electronics, jewellery, or branded goods not described in the job posting
- Shipping labels or postage are provided by the employer rather than going through a traceable company account
- Payment for the role arrives before any identifiable employment contract is confirmed in writing
- Requests to use your personal identity documents when creating shipping accounts
How to protect yourself
- Never accept a job that asks you to receive and forward packages from your home address
- Understand that handling stolen goods — even unknowingly — can result in criminal charges
- Verify any logistics company offering this role through official business registries and a direct call
- Do not open or inspect goods beyond what any legitimate employer would require in writing
- If packages have already arrived, stop forwarding immediately and seek legal advice
How to report it
- Contact your local police non-emergency line to report packages at your address and describe the situation
- Report the recruiting email to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or IC3 at ic3.gov
- Notify the postal service or courier used (USPS, UPS, FedEx) of the suspected fraudulent shipment activity
Frequently asked questions
Can I be charged with a crime even if I did not know the goods were stolen?
In many jurisdictions, knowingly or recklessly handling stolen property can result in criminal charges. Stop forwarding packages immediately if you suspect fraud and seek legal advice before interacting further with the 'employer.'
How do I know if a logistics job offer is legitimate?
Legitimate courier and logistics companies do not hire remote workers to receive packages at private residences. Any job with this structure should be treated with extreme caution.