There may be a work from home scam that is been floating around for years that I still see occasionally, and it’s certainly one of the worst — the package reshipping scam.
This may be very much like the check cashing scam, only much worse with more legal repercussions.
What’s the package reshipping scam?
You see an commercial for a work from home job that sounds pretty easy with good pay.
All you are expected to do is receive packages at your own home (which is likely to be anything … laptops, iPhones, game systems are just a few common examples) after which reship those packages to someplace else (possibly overseas).
This position could also be advertised as “package processor,” “logistics manager,” or anything that sounds skilled. But the outline will give it away.
You are told that you’re going to be paid a flat rate per package sent.
The work will sound pretty easy and the pay fair, which is why so many individuals fall for it.
But what many individuals don’t ever ask themselves is, why would this company need me to do that for them?
If they will go to the difficulty to ship the packages to me, why cannot they only ship the packages themselves to their final destinations? Why would they need a middle-man?
And it’s at that time that the large red warning flags should at all times go up!
What You are Actually Doing
If you happen to fall for this scam, you possibly can actually be reshipping stolen goods or goods purchased with stolen bank card numbers.
The people “hiring” you to do that don’t desire anything traced back to them, so as an alternative they mislead innocent individuals who just want home-based jobs.
The scammers make it so the packages come to your home initially, not theirs. This manner the one who will get in trouble with the law is you, not them!
And they’re going to still get to maintain their stolen merchandise because they tricked you into forwarding the package on to them.
But when the police come knocking, they’ll come to your door first.
And so they may never even find the actual criminals because likelihood is good that the address you were told to forward the package(s) to is either a PO box or someplace overseas — making the crooks mainly untraceable.
Scammers are Smart
Innocent people have actually gone to jail for this, so don’t let it occur to you! The criminals will go to great lengths to make themselves appear like a legitimate company.
But irrespective of how legit they seem on the skin, you might have to wonder why they might want you to ship packages for them.
There’s just no way across the incontrovertible fact that if they may have something shipped to you, they may just go ahead and ship it to the place they’re asking you to forward it on to. Something like that ought to at all times seem fishy.
Scams like this are still on the market and other people still fall for them on a regular basis. Actually, it’s an enormous a part of what gives work from home it’s negative fame.
Nowadays there are literally numerous legitimate home-based jobs, but several years ago there weren’t — and scams like this were absolutely all over the place.
Have you ever been scammed?
If you happen to are currently in the midst of a reshipping scam, there are some things you may do. For starters, don’t ship those packages!
Contact your local authorities and explain what is going on on. Forward any correspondence you might have from the “company” to the police — anything that may help track them down.
Also, definitely don’t money any checks you have been sent as payment for shipping packages because you possibly can get into legal trouble again for cashing fraudulent checks.
If you happen to’ve already been shipping packages, don’t ship any more and again, contact the police.
It’s best to also contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) with the small print.
Need to Avoid Work at Home Scams Completely?
The one resource on the internet that guarantees scam-free, flexible, distant jobs is FlexJobs. They list a whole lot of job leads every day across many various categories.
And higher yet, they haven’t any ads on their site. But because there are not any ads, they do charge a small fee for access. That is how they’re paid back for his or her efforts find the leads.
You’ll be able to get access for 14 days for just $2.95. And in case you feel that the value is not value it, you may cancel easily at any point and you will not be billed again.
I’ve had a subscription myself on and off over time, and I’ve at all times find numerous good distant job leads listed.
You’ll be able to go here to try FlexJobs.
Good luck!