High riskJob

Reshipping Job Scam

This scam advertises a work-from-home 'package processing' or 'quality control' role where you receive parcels and reship them abroad, but the goods were bought with stolen cards, making you an unwitting money mule with real legal risk.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Money-mule job scam
Main red flag
A work-from-home job whose main task is receiving parcels and forwarding them to other addresses, often overseas.
What to do first
Stop reshipping anything and do not forward further parcels. Keep records of everything you have received.

What to know first

This scam advertises a work-from-home 'package processing' or 'quality control' role where you receive parcels and reship them abroad, but the goods were bought with stolen cards, making you an unwitting money mule with real legal risk.

Job and employment scams exploit hope and momentum with an easy "hire", work-from-home promises, and tasks that supposedly pay commission. The tell is the direction money flows: real employers pay you, while scams get you to pay in for training, equipment, or to "unlock" earnings, or to hand over bank and ID details.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: A work-from-home job whose main task is receiving parcels and forwarding them to other addresses, often overseas. Stop reshipping anything and do not forward further parcels. Keep records of everything you have received.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Mystery Shopper Scam and the Fake Job Offer Scam. For the wider picture, browse the Job Scams guides or run the message through our scam checker.

Scam statistics

Fast-growing
business and job-opportunity scams are among the fastest-growing fraud types reported to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$10.3B
total reported US fraud losses in 2023 across all categories
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Tell-tale red flags

  • The job mainly involves receiving parcels at your home and reshipping them elsewhere
  • You are asked to remove or change original shipping labels before forwarding items
  • Goods are sent to your address but the final destinations are often abroad
  • Pay is delayed by a long 'probation' that frequently ends without any wages
  • The employer is vague about company details and avoids verifiable contact information

Staying safe

  • Stop forwarding any parcels and do not accept new shipments for the role
  • Research the company using independent sources and look for warnings from others
  • Recognise that handling goods bought with stolen cards can carry legal consequences even if you did not know
  • Keep records of parcels, tracking numbers, and all messages from the employer

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Welcome to our logistics quality-control team. Packages will arrive at your home address. Remove the original labels, repackage the items, and send them to the international addresses we provide. Your salary is paid after a 30-day probation.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What to notice: A work-from-home job whose main task is receiving parcels and forwarding them to other addresses, often overseas.

Steps if you already acted

  • Stop all reshipping activity immediately and do not send any waiting parcels
  • Do not provide further personal or banking details to the employer
  • Contact your bank if you shared account information, and watch for misuse
  • Report the scheme to your national anti-fraud centre and, where relevant, local police

Common mistakes

  • Do not continue reshipping parcels once you suspect the goods may be stolen
  • Do not remove or relabel packages to disguise where items came from
  • Do not hand over your bank account to receive or pass on payments for the 'employer'

Scams like this one

High risk Job

Mystery Shopper Scam

This scam offers a fake secret or mystery shopper job, sends you a cheque to deposit, and asks you to 'evaluate' a money-transfer service by wiring most of it back or buying gift cards, after which the cheque bounces and you are left owing the money.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Job

Fake Job Offer Scam

This scam offers a job with little or no interview, then asks for upfront fees, personal documents, or bank details to 'set you up.'

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Job

Fake Remote Data Entry Job Scam

This scam advertises easy remote data entry work, then asks for upfront fees, personal documents, or bank details, or routes you into money handling.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

How can a parcel-forwarding job get me into legal trouble?
The items are often bought with stolen card details, and forwarding them helps move stolen goods. Handling or reshipping such goods can carry legal risk even if you believed the job was genuine.
Why does the employer want me to remove the shipping labels?
Relabelling hides the original buyer and destination, which helps conceal the fraud. A legitimate logistics role would not ask you to disguise where parcels came from.
They promised a salary, so why is this a scam?
The long unpaid 'probation' is a common feature. Many workers reship goods for weeks, then the employer disappears without paying, leaving the worker exposed to the fraud.
What should I do if I have already shipped some parcels?
Stop immediately, keep all your records, and report what happened to your national anti-fraud centre. Acting quickly and cooperating helps show you were unaware of the fraud.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.