A work-from-home job promises easy money: receive packages at your address, repackage them, and forward them on, all for a weekly paycheck. It sounds harmless, even boring. In reality you would be a “reshipping mule,” laundering goods bought with stolen cards — and the paycheck never comes. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to recognize a reshipping job scam.
How the scam works
You are “hired” for a role with a title like package processor, quality inspector, or logistics agent, often after an unsolicited message or a too-good job ad. Packages start arriving at your home; your task is to remove invoices, repackage the items, and reship them to addresses — frequently overseas — using prepaid labels they send. The goods were bought with stolen credit cards, and you are the anonymizing link that moves them to the criminals. When payday comes, the “employer” vanishes, and you may be left holding evidence of fraud shipped from your address.
Red flags to watch for
- A job that is just receiving and forwarding packages from home.
- Prepaid shipping labels sent to you, often to international addresses.
- Instructions to remove invoices or repackage items before shipping.
- No real company details, an interview only by chat, and instant hiring.
- Pay promised “after a probation period” that never actually arrives.
Why this job is a trap
Legitimate companies do not hire strangers to receive merchandise at a personal home and forward it abroad — that is not how real logistics work. The entire point is to put your name and address between the stolen goods and the criminals, so that you absorb the risk. Beyond never being paid, reshipping stolen property can expose you to legal trouble and identity theft, since the “employer” usually collects your personal details during “onboarding.” If a job is simply forwarding packages, the product being moved is crime, and you are the cover.
No real employer needs a stranger’s home as a relay for packages going overseas. In a reshipping job, the thing being shipped is the crime — and your name is on the label.
How to protect yourself
Refuse any “job” that involves receiving and forwarding packages, and stop immediately if you have started — keep the packages and report it. Never share your personal details or identity documents with an unverified employer, and research any company independently. If you handed over personal information, consider a fraud alert and watch your accounts. Keep your email and banking behind a unique password from our password generator and two-factor authentication, since onboarding scams harvest logins too.
Frequently asked questions
What is a reshipping job scam?
It is a fake work-from-home job where you receive packages and forward them on. The goods were bought with stolen cards, making you a “mule” who launders them. The promised pay never arrives, and you absorb the legal risk.
Is reshipping packages illegal?
Forwarding goods bought with stolen cards can expose you to serious legal trouble, even if you did not know at first. No legitimate employer hires strangers to relay packages from home, especially to overseas addresses.
What if I already started a reshipping job?
Stop shipping immediately, keep any packages, and report it to the authorities. Watch your accounts if you shared personal details, consider a fraud alert, and secure your email and banking with strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication.