Assembly-Work / Envelope-Stuffing Kit Scam
You pay for a kit to assemble products or stuff envelopes from home, but your finished work is always 'rejected,' and the pay never comes.
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What this scam is
A classic work-at-home scam: you pay for a starter kit or materials to assemble crafts/products or stuff envelopes, promised good pay per piece. When you submit your work, it is rejected as 'not meeting standards,' so you are never paid — or the 'job' is simply to recruit others to buy the same kit. The only money changing hands is your payment for the kit. Legitimate assembly jobs do not charge you to start.
What it usually looks like
- A pay-per-piece assembly or envelope-stuffing offer.
- A required kit or materials purchase.
- Promises of easy at-home income.
- Work that is always 'rejected' on submission.
Common warning signs
- Paying for a kit to begin work.
- Guaranteed piece-rate income from home.
- Vague company details.
- Rejected work and no payment.
Example wording scammers use
“Earn $500/week assembling our products at home! Order your $45 starter kit to begin.”
“Stuff envelopes from home — send $30 for materials and instructions.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Your payment for a worthless kit.
- To reject your work and avoid paying.
- Possibly to recruit you to sell kits.
What to do
- Never pay for a kit to start an at-home job.
- Be skeptical of guaranteed piece-rate income.
- Research the company before buying anything.
- Report the offer.
What to do if you already responded
- Dispute the kit charge with your card issuer.
- Keep the ad and materials as evidence.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.