The Package Reshipping Scam: How “Work-from-Home” Jobs Can Make You an Accomplice

You see an ad for a “logistics assistant” or “package handler” position that lets you work from home. The pay is generous—often $25 to $35 an hour—and the only requirement is that you have a computer and a place to receive boxes. No experience needed. No interview. The company sends you packages, you open them, inspect them (sometimes repackage them), and then forward them to a different address. You get paid per package. Sounds easy, right? Too easy. That is exactly what it is: a dangerous employment scam that can leave you facing criminal charges, bank account closures, and a permanent credit black mark.

The package reshipping scam is one of the most insidious work-from-home frauds operating today. It preys on older, middle-class Americans who are looking for a legitimate side income or a full‑time remote job. The scammers often pose as legitimate companies—sometimes even using real business names stolen from import‑export firms or online retailers. They will send you a check to buy shipping supplies (or to pay your first “bonus”), and that check is almost always a counterfeit. You deposit it, the bank credits your account, you buy the supplies or forward the packages, and then the check bounces. You are left owing the bank the full amount, plus fees. Meanwhile, you have already shipped goods that were purchased with stolen credit cards to a drop address used by the fraud ring.

How does the scam work in practice? You apply online through a website that looks professional. A “hiring manager” emails you a job description and a list of your responsibilities. They ask for your full name, address, phone number, and sometimes a copy of your driver’s license. That alone is a red flag: no legitimate employer will ask for such sensitive information before a formal interview. Once you are “hired,” they start sending packages to your home. The packages contain expensive electronics, designer clothing, jewelry, or pharmaceuticals. Your job is to open them, remove any original packing slips, and then repackage them with a new shipping label they email you. The new label sends the goods to a different address, often a freight forwarder or a rented mailbox in another state or country.

You may think you are just doing a routine job. But in reality, you are acting as a middleman for a criminal enterprise. The merchandise was bought using stolen credit card numbers. The scammer needs a clean address—yours—to receive the goods without being traced. By reshipping the items, you are helping the fraudster avoid law enforcement while you take the risk. If the police investigate, they will come to your doorstep. You will be questioned, your computer and records seized, and you could be charged with receiving stolen property, wire fraud, even money laundering. Scammers are counting on you being too embarrassed or confused to call the authorities. They also use your identity to open new rental agreements, utility accounts, or even bank accounts under your name.

How do you spot a package reshipping scam? There are reliable warning signs. The pay is unrealistically high for a no‑skill job that requires almost no time. The employer never meets you in person or does a video interview. All communication is through email, text message, or encrypted chat apps like Telegram. The company’s website has no physical address or only a P.O. box. They rush you to start immediately, telling you that supplies are on the way. And most importantly, they send you a check or ask you to accept money transfers before you have done any real work. Legitimate employers do not send you money to buy your own supplies. They provide the supplies or reimburse after purchase with a company credit card.

What should you do if you have already fallen for this scam? Stop all communication immediately. Do not forward any more packages. Do not deposit any more checks. Contact your bank and tell them you believe you have been a victim of a scam. They can help you close affected accounts and reverse any fraudulent checks. Then call your local police or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. Keep all emails, tracking numbers, and shipping labels as evidence. You should also place a fraud alert on your credit reports with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, because the scammers now have your personal information.

The package reshipping scam is not a victimless crime. It drains money from honest consumers whose stolen credit cards are used to buy the goods. It funds larger criminal networks involved in identity theft, drug trafficking, and even human trafficking. And it puts you, the reshipper, squarely in legal jeopardy. If you are between the ages of 45 and 64 and looking for extra income, remember this: no legitimate work‑from‑home job will ever ask you to receive and forward packages from unknown sources. If the money seems too good to be true, it is a lie. Trust your instincts. Verify the company. And never, ever let a stranger turn your home into a hub for crime.