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Work-from-home reshipping job scam
A job offer says you can earn good money from home as a 'shipping coordinator' or 'quality control inspector'. Packages arrive at your door, you check them, then relabel and ship them to addresses the company gives you.
The items were bought with stolen credit cards. You're helping criminals move stolen goods, often overseas, and the promised paycheck rarely arrives.
What the message looks like
From: HR Department <careers@global-logistics-hub[.]com>
Subject: Package inspector position: start this week
Congratulations! You've been selected as a Remote Package Inspector. Pay: $2,800/month plus $30 per package.
You'll receive packages at your address, inspect contents, attach our prepaid labels and drop them off within 24 hours.
How this scam works
Reshipping scams have been around for years and keep coming back with new names. The FTC warns that job offers to reship packages are scams, and that people who take them can end up in legal and financial trouble.
The 'employer' may send you a professional-looking contract, a training portal and prepaid shipping labels. They may even ask for your Social Security number and bank details for 'payroll', which puts you at risk of identity theft.
After a few weeks, the company stops responding, and you're left unpaid. Sometimes police or retailers contact you about the stolen goods.
Some versions ask you to buy items with your own money first and get reimbursed, or to receive and forward money as well as packages.
Real shipping and logistics jobs don't ask you to use your home address to receive and reship goods for strangers.
These offers often reach people looking for flexible work, including retirees and stay-at-home parents. If you know someone job hunting from home, share how this scam looks.
Red flags
- Jobs that involve receiving and reshipping packages at home.
- No interview or a chat-only interview.
- Prepaid shipping labels to overseas addresses.
- Requests for your SSN and bank details early.
- Titles like 'package inspector' or 'shipping coordinator'.
How to tell it’s fake
- Search the company name with 'scam' and check its address.
- Remember real companies don't ship goods through employees' homes.
- Check for official job postings on the company's real site.
- Talk to someone you trust before you start.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- Stop working with the company. Don't ship any more packages.
If you paid
- If you spent your own money, contact your bank. Report the job to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you shared your SSN or bank details, visit IdentityTheft.gov and watch your accounts.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard in Chrome and Edge on your computer checks job emails and offer pages. It recognizes reshipping and fake employer sites, and warns before you share your SSN or bank details. If a job seems legit, get a scam expert's opinion first.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- Is package forwarding work legal?
- Reshipping goods for strangers is usually part of a fraud scheme.
- I already shipped packages. Am I in trouble?
- Stop right away, keep records, and report it.
- Why didn't I get paid?
- The scam is designed to use you and disappear.
- How do I find real remote jobs?
- Use trusted job sites and verify employers.