It seems like for every person that seeks legitimate work at home opportunities there are thousands or more that want to scam them out of their hard earned money.
Unfortunately this is the reality of the situation that we must face. We take this very seriously on our blog. With the economy being in the state it is, None of us can afford to be investing money in scams when there are actually legitimate ways to make money online. In fact we list many legitimate and free Legit ways to make money online here.
Recently we've had an onslaught of positive comments and thanks from many of you who were able to avoid scams such as wire transfer and check cashing because of articles you read here.
So with that in mind I just want to introduce yet another scam to avoid. By the way, this is a real scam. This isn't one of the cases where you tried a work at home opportunity and couldn't make money so now you're calling it a scam. This isn't one of those misrepresenting rebate processing, typing, data entry or survey lists. The following scam is the type that will not only lose you money but you may also end up losing your freedom. So listen up!
So what is Package Forwarding or Re-shipping Work At Home Opportunity?
Unfortunately, it's not working at home for UPS, FED EX, DHL or the USPS shipping packages. This so called opportunity is more like a variation of wire transfers or check cashing scams. It's no surprise that the scam artist wouldn't deviate much from other successful scams. After all, “if it ain't broke, why fix it?”. But from time to time they make some slight variations to see if they can sucker even more people like us.
So here's how it works in a nutshell. Re-shipping also known as “package forwarding” usually starts with an emailed job offer. Just like the common Nigerian scam, these so called “employers” offer up phony contracts and other documentation to make them appear legitimate. They may even reference legitimate company names and physical address in their emails (like Microsoft or some other major company you already trust.) Once they have lured you into a sense of security, the packages are shipped to your home at no cost to you. You are provided with instructions to reship the packages to another address (Usually a P.O. box) Once you have reshipped the package you report back to the company so you can get your check.
Sounds good, right? You just need to sit there and wait for your check now. But guess what? It's not a check that arrives at your door. Instead it's your local boys in blue (POLICE) or if you're really lucky, the feds (F.B.I.). And what they're bringing you is a one way ticket to “club fed” aka prison, jail, the slammer, etc. You're now considered an accessory to a crime and may be even found “guilty” of receiving and shipping stolen property.
Identity Theft With A Twist Of Lime…
Most of us have heard about identity theft. Usually the victim is one person whose identity has been stolen. However no one really talks about another element of it which comes into play with today's scam. Reshipping or package forwarding schemes actually double the adverse effects of identity theft.
It creates two victims, the person whose identity has been stolen and a person who becomes a package forwarder or re-shipper. The reason is that when you re-ship these packages on behalf of these so called legit companies, you're actually shipping stolen merchandise to the real criminals who stole someone's identity & credit card information. Now when criminals commit identity theft or credit card schemes, they know not to ship the stolen goods to their homes. It's a really dumb way to get caught. So this re-shipping “job” was hatched to easily move stolen goods using us as a unknowing mules. This is also the reason they tell you to ship to a p.o. box. This way they can't be traced when you finally realize you've been punked. Except no one is laughing when everything has been figured out.
So What Should You Do?
First and foremost, don't feel embarrassed if you are a victim. Desperation and lack of information leads a lot of us to become victim of work at home scams. Unfortunately it's sort of a rite of passage many of us face before finding success as I did with My #1 Free Legitimate Way To Make Real Money At Home. So don't beat yourself up about it. Become proactive and learn from this mistake. Here are some action steps to take:
1. Don't accept packages for people you don't know.
So if you're coming here asking if company x is legitimate because you're considering shipping packages for them, just stop in your tracks. If it sounds like the scam listed above, that's what it is. Don't let your desperation cloud your judgment. Just remember scam artist will often use legitimate company names and websites to throw you off. But that doesn't matter! If it has anything to do with re-shipping items, you know it's a scam!
2. Stop all communication with con artists who try to solicit your help in re-shipping items. Again don't let anything throw you off.
3. Don't Send It!
If you already have the stolen merchandise from the scam artists, don't mail it! You should return it to the merchant as soon as possible and explain the situation to them. Don't let them intimidate you or worry about any physical retaliation. These guys are cyber thugs and punks. They don't want any of you. Trust me they have more than enough victims they can target if you decide to do the right thing.
4. Cover Your Ass!
Keep all correspondence (e-mails, faxes, receipts, invoices etc.) related to these scams. If the boys in blue or feds coming knocking on your door, you want to build your case that you're a victim here too and weren't the originator of the scam.
5. Start Snitching!
The scam artists know you're going to feel embarrassed or “stupid” for falling for this scam. They're actually betting that you're going to stay tight lip for fear of ridicule. That's the worse thing you can do. Here's a news flash most of us have been scammed before finding something legitimate as I did. It's nothing to be ashamed of. That said, you spread the word! Doing so will help protect others.
- So contact the Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455 of click here to file a complaint online. They'll help you return stolen items back to the proper owners.
- File a complaint with ic3.gov as well for good measure.
6. Invest in credit monitoring and identity theft protection.
Chances are you were required to fill out some bogus job application or other paper work where you provided some personal information. You may have even sent in copies of your driver's license or other id. Either way all that information can be used to open up lines of credit in your name which can obviously be used to buy more merchandise. Then the cycle starts again and they'll have someone else shipping stolen goods they buy with your credit.
So my advice is to invest in some credit monitoring and/or identity protection services ASAP! It's literally an investment you can't afford not to have after you've become a victim. These con artists can sell your information on the black market and you'll never know when one of them decides to start using it. So you need to have a trusted credit/identity monitoring company that for you 24/7. Otherwise you can hurt your own credit and lead to other issues.
How You Can Help Fight Back!
If you have already fallen victim to this, you may want to be proactive and report all the details below so others can avoid it. Include any emails, names, addresses, etc. The more information you can provide, the better it will be. This way when people do a search online, this article will come up and help others avoid this scam! Remember that's probably how you came to this article. So do your part to help others as well!
How To Find Legitimate Work At Home Opportunities.
Even if you have fallen victim to this scam, the good news is that you've landed on this site which is well known for helping people find legitimate ways of earning money from home. With that in mind you have a lot of options here.
- Visit Swagbucks.com which is BBB Rated Legit Work At Home Option.
- Sign up for FusionCash.com which is another BBB rated work from home opportunity!
- Start Here For Real & Researched Work From Home Opportunities
- Real Ways To Earn Money Online offers some great leads as well!
Don't let this experience get you bitter and give up on your dream to work at home. This scam has led you here so take full advantage of the options that we have researched that can make you money safely.
How To Avoid Being Scammed Again
Stick with companies that are already proven and established like FusionCash.com & Swagbucks.com. Research is another key to success in this industry. If you get in the habit of researching any company before you work with them, you'll avoid most scams. We make this easy with our scam video listed here. There are also other scams listed there that you should read. This way you'll be able to identify other scams that should be avoided. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about the industry the better your chances are of success.
Conclusion
The only forwarding you should be doing is sharing a good joke or an informative article like this one. But I'm actually dead ass serious. Send this article to as many people as you can. Post it on social media and help others avoid this nonsense. If you stay silent, you're just helping the people who scammed you. So keep that in mind.
Hopefully we saved many more of you from becoming another victim of this twist on identity theft. I'll say it again for good measure, don't get involved in something like this. I don't care if they said Jesus thought it was a good idea. It's not!
Don't try to rationalize it. Chances are if you're asking if a company is legitimate, you probably already suspect it's a scam and it usually is.
I hope this helps either way! If you find this article useful and would like to hear from me with more information on legitimate ways to make money or scams to avoid then consider becoming a subscriber like thousands of others have!
Until next time,
Eddy with a y
Entornopost.com emailed me while i was job hunting. i fell for it. i worked for a month and the night before payday i was no longer able to login to my dashboard and my payment was never made. the number that i used to contact my supervisor was disconnected. i quit 2 jobs to make i was home to recieve the packages. the company was in constant contact with me to make sure the packages were recieved and sent off.
I recently has this experience with a company name galaxy post website usglaxaypost.com. The paperwork the article of incorporation was sent to me to prove they were a real company doing business the right way. However, after feel uncomfortable about the operator aspect of the company. I started do more research and find this website. Thank you for the information and the comments by other that has encounter these scammer. I will report the activities that requested so others will not be scam by this company.
I’m glad you found this article and were able to avoid this scam.
Hi. I was almost scammed as well. From a company called kannaway company. A hemp company based in California. Data entry, clerical, etc. I was to talk to someone with a gmail address…I talked to him, gave my bank account info, then he wanted my log in and password, I said no way, he tried telling me it’s legit, I said if it’s so legit then they can send me a check for the stuff I needed to buy, printer, copier, etc. He still tried! I reported them to the bbb. First I was contacted on Facebook then to messenger, the woman told me she lived at a place my boyfriend lives! He even recognized the name! So at first I thought it was ok until this other idiot got involved. But now I know and am so glad I saw this website! Thank you so much and look forward to more emails from you. I have already applied for a couple legitimate work from home jobs. Thanks again!
Hey Mona, I’m glad you were able to avoid this scam. I’m sure you’ll enjoy my content.
it’s so scary and aggravating because now i’m ready to freak out because I have been shipping packages for a so called company called “Sales4Worldusa” for almost a month now and a few days ago I couldn’t stop thinking that something just didn’t feel right you know? I can’t work due to my hearing impairment and it sucks cuz I like to work so I thought maybe finding one I could do at home would make me feel better and I already get tons of emails from sites I signed up for like indeed and zip recruiter for jobs that fit my experience you know and I get an email from these people saying this:
“We at sales for world write to inform you of our new vacancy for which you may have interest. the position of quality and control inspector is a home based opportunity with great earning potential. there has been extensive growth in online marketing and international package deliveries creating numerous job opportunities (like this one) for persons interested in home based jobs without sacrificing stability and earning potential. We offer a fixed monthly salary of $1,500.00 plus a bonus of $50.00 for each successful package sent. that is an average income of $3,000.00 per month. if this opportunity interests you, please reply with the following information to facilitate an interview.
First and last name
Complete address
Contact number (mobile and landline)
Current employment status
Training will be provided and someone will be available for 24 hour support to walk you through the process. it is important to note that incomplete information may result in rejection of your application. for queries or concerns, please feel free to contact us. we are looking forward to having you on our team.
Regards
HR Department
Sales For World Inc.
382 NE 191ST ST #62492, MIAMI, FL 33179
Phone support: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm EST
Email support: 24 hours/ 7 days”
Normally I do some type of research on jobs you to see what all the details are but when your in a desparate situation and having family and financial problems and in this economy finding a job is getting even harder. my husband and I just moved and struggling so of course I jumped on it. I figured it was just like sending emails or postcards but nope I was wrong. I didn’t know what to do when I stared reading about how much of a scam this was and now that I’ve been doing this for almost a month im afraid of what will happen next. I have packages here still and I quit shipping them a few days ago and now they send an email saying that if I don’t contact them by the end of the business day that I would be getting a call from their lawyer or something about lost or stolen property because they made a police report or something. It’s hard not to feel ashamed or stupid and worried..
Please people what ever you do, no matter how hard times are or how good it sounds, TIMES AINT THAT HARD TO FALL FOR THIS! don’t do it..
Hey Samantha, I’m sorry you were a victim of this and didn’t find my site site sooner. Don’t freak out. It’s happening to many people. Follow the steps I laid out in my article above. I totally understand what desperation will do to people. It’s not your fault. At least now you know what to do. And now you
have a resource that provides you legit ways to make money so you can avoid nonsense like this.
I’m also so sorry this happened to you, we just added a warning about those scams on our website. We are losing so much money having to deal with scammers, it’s also tough on small businesses like ours… Do not hesitate to place a claim with the IC3 and the postal inspector, this way you will be protected. here is the warning we posted –> https://www.relayshopusa.com/en/fake-jobs-posting-scams-warning
Omg!! This is crazy!! I’m actually the owner of one of the company that those scammers are pretending to work for and post fake jobs (Relay Shop USA), we do provide shipping, fulfillment and parcel forwarding services and we are a real and legit company. In the past 3 weeks I started to receive daily emails about people telling us they applied for jobs, however we are not hiring. That s how we found out about this scheme, and got in contact with the postal inspector. I also started to research online and found this. Those scammers are really smart, they use real businesses names, so when people go look them up online, they do exist and are legit, however you guys need to be more careful and pay attention to the email addresses they are using, they can be very similar to our official emails but are not, their domain name will also be similar but not exactly the same (i.e. relayshopusa.com vs relayshopusa.org)
It’s always a good idea to check online and get in contact with the real company directly like a lot of people are doing right now with us!
Yeah it is. That’s why it’s important for people to do their research and it’s why this website was created. We warn people against nonsense like this and provide them legitimate ways of making money online.
As embarrassing as it is to admit, I got scammed too:( A couple months ago, I received the following email from an Elissa Sanders.
“Because of swift growth the shipping company is searching for new applicants for various divisions:
– delivery desk;
– Packaging department;
– Quality control department.
We offer an easy yet a worthwhile position with no expenses involved.
There is no need to resell the received goods.
Vacancy implies home-based job – perfect combination of comfort plus high and stable income.
This job is an ideal choice for stay-at-home moms, housewives, undergraduates and all active, driven candidates willing to earn without sales or investment of any kind.
Your duties are:
– Receipt of correspondence, small-sized packages;
– handling of the packages;
– simple daily photo-reports;
– The review of the contents for possible damages;
– Pickups from the postal facilities for owners of own vehicles.
We expect you to:
– Be a experienced PC user;
– Have one of the following devices: notebook, smartphone or tablet;
– Have printer or be able to promptly print out the required documents 1-2 pages per package;
– Be on call within the specified hours via cell or preferable messenger;
– Have an outstanding communication experience;
– own a personal car (optional).
We offer:
– Highly flexible schedule, competitive compensation, favourable environment and other perks;
– Monthly wages are $2500 plus bonus;
– Free trainings for new employees.
So, even if you don’t have any similar experience or you can spare only a few hours for the work, but you are smart and looking for an additional income – join us!
The most important is to stay in touch and be brainy and energetic.
Considering a large number of applicants, we urge you to contact us immediately.
Kind Regards,
Elisa Sanders.”
I replied asking the name of the company, (just for the heck of it) and not because I figured I’d get a reply. Well, to my surprise, they did reply; the name of the company was RelayShopUSA.
I googled the company and found a website and FB page so I foolishly assumed that they were legit and started working with them in June. All I had to do was receive the package, get a prepaid shipping label from my contact at the company, Annie Wright, and then drop the package off at Fedex or USPS. Easy peasy. I worked with RelayShopUSA from June until last week, when I received a letter from the Post Office informing me that I was most likely working with a company that was part of a reshipping scheme.
I googled it and came across this article, which was very informative and helped me understand what exactly a reshipping scheme was!
I feel super stupid, but I’m glad to have gained the experience so that I can help others to avoid my mistakes.
Don’t feel stupid. It happens to the best of us. Now you know better and have found this site. Thanks for being brave and sharing this with others to help them avoid it.
This happened to my husband too, for a month! They are also very responsive at first, then dissappear. They found him through Indeed.com so even on legit sites you have to be careful. We did our research too, so we thought. They were VERY thorough (had BBB credentialing, but also fake I guess) The companies were Shipway and Elquis. If it sounds too good to be true, it is! We saved all the info, and then we started getting notices from Paypal Credit, which these places used but by then we knew it was a scam. We feel really stupid too so but are now that much more cautious about everything online, at least.
Hey I’m sorry to hear this happened to your husband. Don’t feel stupid. These scammers are really good at what they do. But now you’ve found this site and you have legit resources to check. But it’s good to have a healthy skepticism of everything online.
Hi!
Are all package forwarding jobs a scam? I looked up the company that hired me which is FastPack Delivery and it seems legit. I also looked in the Secretary of State of Oregon to see if the company was registered and it is. What should I do? Or how can I know that it is truly a scam? I was hired a week ago.
Read the article and comments above. I can’t repeat what’s already been written. You decide to ignore it then be prepared to deal with the consequences.
Are all the package forwarding jobs a scam? How can i tell?
I don’t know how else to repeat this. These are not legitimate jobs. Stop trying to convince yourself they are. It’s that simple.
We have received your application for the job opening of Shipping & Receiving Clerk.
After a very careful screening of all the proposals received, we would like to announce that your application has been selected.
As the next step to finalization of your engagement, I hereby am attaching the following documents for your consideration:
– Job description (an insight of our working procedures)
– Independent Contractor Agreement
Just a small summary of the offer you have applied for:
It is a home-based, part-time position, flexible working hours, the scheduling is managed by you via an online service, which is used by the two parties in order to control and track incoming and outgoing orders.
SALARY: $2,150.00/month + bonuses.
Please not that after 6 months you might be proposed to convert this position into a full-time one with a greater salary and bonuses.
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Contractor’s agreement for more info.
If you are happy with the proposed terms, please send us a scanned copy of the signed Agreement either via email or fax +1 (302) 349-6083.
NOTE: NO ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES ARE ACCEPTED. THE SIGNATURE MUST BE DONE IN HANDWRITING
If there is no scanner at your disposal, you may take a high resolution picture of the signed contract.
Please mind that I will be expecting a reply from you within the following 5 days, otherwise this job offer will be passed to the next applicant in the list.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Juan Hernandez
HR Senior Manager
Go4Shopping, LLC.
400 White Clay Center Dr
Newark, DE 19711-5468
Tel.#: +1 (302) 349-3067
Fax #: +1 (302) 349-6083
Thanks for sharing this scam.
Oh goodness! Thankfully I thought enough to research the company name before replying to the job offer. Just this morning, I too received a job offer from GO4Shopping llc. Message read the same as described above. Because of the information I found here, I will NOT be their next victim. Thank you so much for the info.
You’re welcome Debbie! I’m glad you did your research. Please be sure to share this page with others and the site for anyone looking to make legit money at home without being scammed.
We have received your application for the job opening of Shipping & Receiving Clerk.
After a very careful screening of all the proposals received, we would like to announce that your application has been selected.
As the next step to finalization of your engagement, I hereby am attaching the following documents for your consideration:
– Job description (an insight of our working procedures)
– Independent Contractor Agreement
Just a small summary of the offer you have applied for:
It is a home-based, part-time position, flexible working hours, the scheduling is managed by you via an online service, which is used by the two parties in order to control and track incoming and outgoing orders.
SALARY: $2,150.00/month + bonuses.
Please not that after 6 months you might be proposed to convert this position into a full-time one with a greater salary and bonuses.
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Contractor’s agreement for more info.
If you are happy with the proposed terms, please send us a scanned copy of the signed Agreement either via email or fax +1 (302) 349-6083.
NOTE: NO ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES ARE ACCEPTED. THE SIGNATURE MUST BE DONE IN HANDWRITING
If there is no scanner at your disposal, you may take a high resolution picture of the signed contract.
Please mind that I will be expecting a reply from you within the following 5 days, otherwise this job offer will be passed to the next applicant in the list.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Juan Hernandez
HR Senior Manager
Go4Shopping, LLC.
400 White Clay Center Dr
Newark, DE 19711-5468
Tel.#: +1 (302) 349-3067
Fax #: +1 (302) 349-6083
My husband just became one of the newest victims to this scam. The Company’s new front name is Work-Solve. Your job title will be Quality Assurance. You will receive onboarding paperwork, direct deposit forms, and a login with a password to the “Work Panel” where you receive Task. Once you are notified that a package is either being sent to you, or is Awaiting Pickup from a local retailer (Home Depot, Best Buy, etc), you click Task Received in the Panel. Once you have the package in hand, you click, Packaged Received in the Panel. You will receive shipping instructions for the item which you then re-package, and re-ship. You will be instructed to remove all original labels, and all invoices. The Work-Panel even has a live “Help Desk”. I began to get suspicious as the packages begin to increase in value, and the pick-ups were in my husband’s name, and the shipping labels were too. He was advised that there is a 30-day trial period before he would receive his 1st paycheck, and then his pay dates would be bi-weekly. He was offered a salary of $32,500 annually, plus a $15 bonus for every package shipped within 24 hours. I took pictures of everything, including the “Work Panel”. Now I’m praying the authorities don’t show up on my doorstep ready to arrest my husband, or me for unknowingly being “employed” by scam artist. I’m so angry, I could spit fire!!!
Hey Byrd,
It happens to the best of us. Thanks for sharing the details so others can avoid it. You should be fine. Just follow the steps I mentioned above to protect yourself.
Stay away from PobaCouriers luckily I didn’t ship anything to them and did further research to know its a scam their phone line never worked when I called but it allowed them to call me. The email looked like this: “Hello, my name is Jessica. We have a vacancy available for the position of a Package Handler. You are welcome to apply today! Here is more information on the position and instructions for applying: *inserts google doc for application* You will be contacted shortly once application is approved. Don’t let them know that you reported them so they don’t remove their website or any other odd details. Just cut off communication and completely and do not let them know that they have been reported so they can easily be found.
Thanks for sharing Stephanie! Hopefully others can avoid this one.
Hello Eddy with a y, I have fell victim to this scam. I got an email regarding re-shipping from a company called, “Goods Inspect.” A Quality Controller position. I sent personal information but have not received any packages. The “Company” says it works for Amazon
I will cease all communication as of now. I should have known better. The scammers information: Good Inspect, LLC herein after called “The Company.” Amazon Corporate LLC:Business Sector. Named: Laurel Eaton and Mary Buckler(302-364-6671).
Sorry Bridget,
Thanks for sharing your experience and warning others.
Hey, Eddy with a y I was just scammed myself this week with a job just like this company called Insight-Bridges LLC. shipping and receiving clerk
I had a gut feeling about it but I said let me try and I did. Received a package under someone else’s name and like dumb I sent it. They sent me another one today I still have it I said let me look up the address that this is going to and it was the same one that the first one was sent to with the same name as the other package. I mean I looked up the company website it looked legit it even had the job on the careers page. I had a gut feeling but I needed a job I know it’s stupid but it happened. I just filed a complaint with ic3.gov. I kept all communications with this company just in case.
Don’t feel stupid. It happens to the best of us. Sorry you didn’t find this article sooner.
If I already sent my information such as my ID and utility bill what can happen from there?
You better get some identity theft protection and monitoring as I mentioned above.
Hello Eddy,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write in detail about such scam as well as replying to the comments. I received the scam email today and immediately did a search and found this site. So, I just want to comment something here about the scam to help caution others.
Few tips:
1. They didn’t introduce themselves and the company they represent.
2. The email address from the sender was “gmail” rather than a company.
2. There were punctuation errors.
3. The compensation was too good to be true.
Here’s the email I received:
Hello (my name),
We found your resume via Careerbuilder job-site. At the moment we expand our business to the United States territory and can offer you a position of Transportation Manager.
The position is mostly about accepting, repacking and sending parcels with the help of the Postal Service all over the world. It’s a work at home job and does not require any start-up costs.
You do not need to relocate and can do this job from a comfort of your home.
The Transportation Manager duties consist of:
Step 1: You receive parcels at your address.
Step 2: You should report to the supervisor about parcels delivered;
Step 3: You should do repackaging according to supervisor instructions;
Step 4: You will receive a prepaid shipping labels to mail the package out
Step 5: You should affix the shipping label provided by your supervisor to the parcel and drop it off at the nearest post-office.
You do not need to invest any money to start this job. All the shipping costs and extra expenses will be covered by our company.
You will be responsible for dispatching packages in time.
Your compensation will consist of $2400 base salary (monthly) + $30 commission per box received .
Your wage will be deposited into your bank account or mailed in a form of check at the end of each work month.
During the first weeks you will work with a small product quantity. There will be about 10-20 boxes a week.
It’s not obligatory to have any special education, you will have a possibility to gain necessary knowledge during the trial period.
Make sure to have working home and mobile phone numbers, so we could reach you through the day if we have any questions about the reports.
The candidate should have:
1. Printer (you will need to print postage labels to ship the boxes out).
2. Internet Access (to check your email for the information updates) and the ability to your email 2-3 times a day.
3. Ability to receive the parcels right to your physical address (not P.O. box) from courier services such as Fedex, UPS and USPS
If you need some more information regarding the offered vacancy – you could email me with any questions.
The offered vacancy is 100 percent legitimate job, all shipped products are legal under the law of the United States of America.
Please, reply back to get more information.
Sincerely yours,
Jessica Morris
Discount Logistics
Skeppsgatan 19-19,
Malmo, 21119,
Sweden
You’re very welcome. And thanks for sharing those tips. I’m sure they will help others.
ShopperX LLC. I think this is a scam mail forwarding company. They even have so many online news presence.