High riskRomance

Romance Reshipping Scam

In this scam, an online partner asks you to receive parcels and reship them abroad, framing it as helping their business, but the goods are bought with stolen cards, making you part of the fraud.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Romance + reshipping fraud
Main red flag
An online partner asking you to receive and forward parcels abroad.
What to do first
Refuse; reshipping goods for someone you met online can involve stolen-goods fraud.

How this scam works

In this scam, an online partner asks you to receive parcels and reship them abroad, framing it as helping their business, but the goods are bought with stolen cards, making you part of the fraud.

Romance scams build a genuine-feeling bond over days or weeks, then introduce a crisis or investment that needs your money. They rely on fast intimacy, an inability to meet in person, and requests that shift to gift cards or cryptocurrency.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An online partner asking you to receive and forward parcels abroad. Refuse; reshipping goods for someone you met online can involve stolen-goods fraud.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Romance Money Mule Scam and the Romance Scam DM. See the full Romance & Dating Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A partner asking you to receive and reship parcels
  • Goods sent to your address for forwarding abroad
  • An offer to pay you or cover postage
  • Pressure framed as helping their business
  • Avoidance of meeting in person

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Can you receive a few packages for my business and forward them to me overseas? I'll cover postage and pay you.'

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 gives it away: An online partner asking you to receive and forward parcels abroad.

The scale of it

$1B+
romance scams are among the costliest frauds by total reported losses in the US
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that began on social media in 2023, where many romance scams start
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

How to protect yourself

  • Refuse to receive or reship parcels for online contacts
  • Be aware the goods may be bought with stolen cards
  • Do not share your address for forwarding schemes
  • Report it to your authorities

Already responded? Do this now

  • Stop receiving or forwarding parcels immediately
  • Keep records of the items and messages
  • Report it to the police and your fraud authority
  • Cease contact and seek support

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not reship parcels for an online partner
  • Do not use your address for forwarding goods
  • Do not assume payment makes it legitimate

Related scams to know

High risk Romance

Romance Money Mule Scam

In this scam, an online partner asks you to receive money into your account and forward it on, framing it as helping with their business or family, which makes you a money mule laundering the proceeds of fraud.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Romance Scam DM

This scam builds an online romantic relationship through messages, then invents an emergency or investment to ask for money, while always avoiding meeting in person.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Romance

Military Romance Scam

In this scam, a fraudster poses as a deployed soldier on a dating app or social media, builds a romance, then asks for money for leave requests, travel, phones, or emergencies that never resolve.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Why is reshipping risky?
The goods are often bought with stolen cards, and forwarding them makes you part of the fraud, with possible legal consequences, even if you did not realise.
They said it's for their business. Real?
Using your address to receive and forward parcels abroad is a classic reshipping scam. Legitimate businesses do not operate this way.
I forwarded parcels. What now?
Stop, keep records of items and messages, report it to the police and your fraud authority, and cease contact.
How do I spot this?
Any online partner asking you to receive and reship packages is a serious warning sign. Refuse and do not share your address.

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.