Reshipping / Package-Forwarding Job (Money Mule)
A 'work from home' job has you receive packages and reship them abroad — you are unknowingly laundering goods bought with stolen cards, and you rarely get paid.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You are hired as a 'quality control' or 'shipping agent' who receives packages at home, repackages them, and forwards them overseas using prepaid labels. The goods were bought with stolen credit cards, and you are the middle person hiding the trail. Promised pay usually never arrives, your own identity details get misused, and you can face law-enforcement questions. It is a job that turns you into a money-and-goods mule.
What it usually looks like
- A remote 'shipping agent' or 'logistics coordinator' role found by email or DM.
- Instructions to receive packages and reship them, often abroad.
- Prepaid labels sent to you, and a request for your address and ID.
- Pay that is 'held until the trial period ends.'
Common warning signs
- A job whose whole purpose is forwarding packages you did not order.
- You are asked for ID documents and address up front.
- You never actually receive the promised pay.
- The company has little verifiable footprint.
Example wording scammers use
“Congratulations! As our Shipping Coordinator you'll receive parcels and reship them using labels we provide. Send your ID to onboard.”
“Your first task: repackage the items delivered to you and forward them to the address below within 24 hours.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- A person to hide stolen-goods shipping behind.
- Your identity documents and address.
- Free labor while they keep the proceeds.
What to do
- Do not accept jobs built around receiving and reshipping packages.
- Never send ID documents to unverified employers.
- Verify any company independently before engaging.
- Stop all shipping and keep records if you already started.
What to do if you already responded
- Stop reshipping immediately and keep every message and label.
- Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit if you shared ID details.