Job Seekers, Watch Out Reshipping Job Scams

Job Seekers, Watch Out Reshipping Job Scams Job Seekers, Watch Out Reshipping Job Scams 6 For those unfamiliar with reshipping scams, here’s how it works: you apply to a job posting for a company (usually U.S.-based) as a “reshipper.” You will receive packages at your home that are often filled with tech devices such as laptops, iPhones, etc. You’ll open these packages, sometimes testing to ensure that they work, and then repackage them and ship them to an overseas location. Seems fairly legit, right? Wrong. The packages contain items that have been purchased with stolen credit cards. But why would these items be sent to you and not to another address? Well, the scammers need someone (i.e., a mule) to help them smuggle the goods out of the country. If that weren’t bad enough, you’re also asked to fill out a W-2 or a 1099 form that includes, you guessed it, your personal information such as your name, address, social security number, and bank account. Not only are you at risk of having your information stolen (and then used to purchase similar items that you’re repackaging), but you could potentially get sued for your part in a crime (i.e., robbery) or even mail fraud, since the postage labels for reshipping can also be bogus. And if you do receive a check, it will most likely be counterfeit, so you won’t get paid for your work. Here are some tips on how to spot the warning signs of reshipping job scams: Know the lingo. If you want to make sure that you don’t fall prey to a reshipping scam, as this local news story describes, you first need to know how the job scammers advertise for the position. While they might list the job ad as a reshipper, that term has now become synonymous with job scams. So you might come across a job description for a “merchandising manager” or a “package processing assistant.” Some of the duties might include receiving, processing, and mailing packages to a foreign address using pre-paid postage mailing labels that are provided by email. So keep an eye out for these job titles or responsibilities in order to steer clear of a reshipping scam. Use common sense. If you come across a job description for a reshipper, you should ask yourself this: why would a company pay me to open a box and then ship it to another location? Wouldn’t it make more sense to simply ship it directly? Companies worldwide often offer free shipping, so to have a package shipped twice doesn’t add up. Before you apply for any job, read through the job description carefully, and use your judgment. If any part of it doesn’t make sense or seems dodgy, stay away! Use reputable job search boards. Job scammers are slick- they advertise on big job search boards because they want to attract the most people (i.e., victims) to apply and “work” for them. That’s why you should always use niche job search boards, particularly when you’re looking for work-at-home jobs, which is what the reshipping scam is. Sites like ensure that each and every job is hand-screened to avoid any potential job scams. You can browse hand-screened flexible jobs in over 50 categories by visiting our jobs page. Contact the BBB. Let’s say you find a job posting with a company that seems pretty amazing. There aren’t any real red flags to be concerned about, but you still want to make sure you’re not innocently falling into a job scam. You should absolutely contact the Better Business Bureau, particularly if you’re applying for a job with a company you haven’t heard of before. And if scammers claim to work for a large, well-known company, you can always contact that company’s HR department directly to make sure the job you’re applying for is real- and not a job scam. Readers, have you ever been the victim of reshipping job scams or seen ads for jobs like this? Let us know what happened in the comments below!