09/15/2026
What is a reshipping scam?
A reshipping scam is a fraudulent job that typically requires you to receive packages at your home and reship them to another address in exchange for payment. During the holiday season, scammers might also seek gift wrappers. In this variation of the reshipping scam, you'd receive a package at your home, gift wrap it and then reship it. In any case, please keep in mind that there are no legitimate work opportunities that involve receiving packages and shipping them to someone else from your home.
Victims of this scam don’t get paid for their work, and the USPS warns that these complex scams can potentially trick job seekers into committing felonies. Remember, these are not real employers— they are criminals, and by reshipping packages, you may be assisting in a crime. Most of the time, reshipping scams are conducted by criminals who make fraudulent purchases with stolen credit cards and use job seekers to receive and reship stolen goods.
The Serious Risks to You:
If you participate in this, you are acting as a "money/package mule" for a criminal enterprise. The primary dangers include:Criminal Liability: Even if you do not know the items are stolen, you are actively helping criminals launder stolen goods. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warns that reshipping packages can result in you unknowingly committing federal felonies.
Financial Loss: Scammers often send a fake check to "cover expenses" or pay your salary. If you deposit it and send money back to them, the bank will eventually flag the check as counterfeit, and you will be held legally liable for the full amount.
Identity Theft: To get the "job," you usually have to provide your Social Security Number, bank account details, and a copy of your ID, which the scammers will use to steal your identity.
