The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning job seekers about a growing “reshipping” scam that targets people looking to work from home. These fake job offers often promise easy money and impressive-sounding titles like “Delivery Operations Specialist” or “Quality Control Manager.” In reality, these so-called jobs are illegal and could leave you responsible for handling stolen goods.
In a reshipping scam, criminals may claim to be affiliated with well-known companies such as Amazon or FedEx. They use stolen credit cards or bank information to purchase expensive items, such as electronics, and have them sent to your home. You are then instructed to remove the original packaging and shipping labels and forward the packages to another address — often in another country — making the items harder for authorities to track.
Many victims don’t realize what’s happening until payday never arrives and the “employer” disappears. Even worse, if you provided personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account details, or a copy of your ID, you could become a victim of identity theft as well.
To avoid job scams, the FTC recommends the following steps:
- Research the employer. Search the company or individual’s name along with words like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” If you see red flags, do not proceed.
- Talk to someone you trust. Share the details of the offer and get a second opinion before agreeing to anything.
- Act quickly if you shared personal information. Visit IdentityTheft.gov/steps for instructions on how to protect your identity.
Important: Reshipping goods is never a legitimate job. If you encounter this type of scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report.