Fake Package Reshipping Job Scam
Scammers recruit 'parcel processors' to receive and forward packages at home — using them unknowingly as money mules to move goods purchased with stolen payment cards.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Fake package reshipping job scams recruit victims as unwitting intermediaries in a stolen goods operation. The victim is hired as a 'merchandise manager', 'parcel processor', or 'quality control inspector' and tasked with receiving packages at their home address, repackaging them, and forwarding them to an address usually overseas.
The packages contain goods purchased by the scammer using stolen credit card or payment details. By routing delivery through a domestic address, the fraudster bypasses international fraud detection systems and creates distance between the original purchase and the final destination.
The victim may be paid initially, which creates complicity, but is ultimately left unpaid, potentially implicated in receiving stolen goods, and personally liable for any postal or customs penalties.
How it works
The scammer advertises the role on job boards, social media, or via direct message, describing it as flexible home-based logistics work. An employment contract is provided and the victim is asked to register their home address for package delivery. Initial packages arrive — legitimate-looking goods in sealed boxes — which the victim repackages and ships using prepaid labels provided by the 'employer'.
The goods inside are purchased with stolen payment credentials. After several successful shipments, the 'employer' stops responding, and payments for the work are either never made or a fake cheque is sent that subsequently bounces. The victim is left having forwarded stolen goods, sometimes at their own expense, and may receive inquiries from financial institutions or authorities regarding their involvement.
Why this scam works
The role description — receiving and forwarding parcels — is a genuinely recognisable logistics function. The initial packages arrive without incident, and the first payments may be real, establishing trust and commitment. By the time the victim realises the goods are stolen, they have already handled multiple shipments and may fear implication if they report.
Common red flags
- Job requires receiving packages at your home address and forwarding them elsewhere
- Employer is overseas or communicates only via email and messaging apps
- Employment contract looks generic or was clearly adapted from a template
- No verifiable company website, registration number, or physical office
- Packages begin arriving before formal employment is confirmed
- Prepaid shipping labels are for international destinations
- Payment is promised via cheque in advance of completing work
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
We are hiring home-based parcel coordinators. Receive packages, log contents, and forward via prepaid label. [Amount] per week plus commissions.
Work from home as a merchandise inspector. Verify contents and reship to our international warehouse. Flexible hours, paid weekly.
Your first shipment has been dispatched to your address. Please confirm receipt and use the attached label to forward to our facility.
Your payment cheque for [amount] has been mailed. Please continue processing shipments as normal.
Common variations
- Electronics reshipping — typically targets high-value electronics purchased with stolen cards
- Clothing and luxury goods variant — goods purchased from legitimate retailers
- Gift card reshipping — victim receives gift cards to activate and mail rather than physical packages
How to verify before you act
Legitimate logistics companies do not hire private individuals to receive goods at their personal home address for forwarding. They use registered warehouse addresses. Any 'job' that involves receiving packages at your home and shipping them internationally is a reshipping mule operation. Search the company name in your national business registry. If it cannot be found, the company does not exist as described.
Payment methods used
- Fraudulent cheque
- Bank transfer that is later recalled
- Promised but never paid
Who is usually targeted
- People seeking home-based flexible work
- Individuals between jobs
- Those who responded to work-from-home job ads online
What to do immediately
- Stop accepting and forwarding any packages immediately
- Do not open packages that have already arrived — contact your local police for guidance
- Report the employer to your national fraud service and postal authority
- Keep all packages, labels, and communications as evidence
- Notify your bank if you received and spent any payment related to this work
How to prevent it
- Never accept a job that requires receiving packages at your personal home address for onward shipping
- Verify any employer through a national business registry before accepting work
- Be wary of jobs that provide a contract before any interview or vetting process
- Understand that receiving and forwarding stolen goods can carry legal consequences even if you were unaware
Evidence to preserve
- All communications with the employer
- The job advertisement
- Any contract or employment documents
- Package labels, tracking numbers, and contents lists
- Payment communications or cheques received
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
Could I face legal consequences for reshipping packages if I did not know they were stolen?
Knowingly or unknowingly participating in receiving and forwarding stolen goods may have legal implications depending on your jurisdiction. Report the situation to authorities proactively, provide all evidence you have, and seek legal advice. Proactive disclosure is generally viewed more favourably than discovery.
The cheque I received bounced — what do I do?
A bounced cheque means any funds you withdrew from your bank account before it cleared were funds you owe your bank. Contact your bank immediately. Report the fraudulent employer to your national fraud service. This is a common mechanic in work-from-home scams designed to leave victims with a financial loss.