The Parcel Mule Scam
Welcome back, my friends, to the list that never ends! That's right ladies and gentlemen! Fraud Friday is here! This week, on the docket is: The parcel mule scam!
Parcel Mule scams are also referred to as "reshipping scams."
A scammer will contact you with a "job opportunity," that involves accepting and reshipping packages. The packages are either stolen or fraudulently obtained items, and you will not be paid by the scammer. Below, you will find a news article about a scam victim who fell for this scam and reshipped over 20 packages containing fraudulently acquired goods.
How it works: The scammer often attracts their victims under the guise of a bogus work-from-home opportunity, although other angles, such as a romance scam may be used to lure victims. Victims will then begin to receive packages, often containing valuable goods, such as: consumer electronics, designer clothes, etc. These items are either fraudulently bought (i.e., bought through a stolen credit card or bank account), stolen, or counterfeit. The scammer will then ask to have the items repackaged and sent to another address. The forwarding address is often another victim, though it is sometimes another person involved in the scam. By routing the package through many people, it will become significantly difficult to track down the original scammer. After the package is sent out with proof sent to the scammer, the scammer may offer financial compensation.
This is where it gets really nasty. At their core, mule scams aren't the worst of the flock. The worst part is that these scams are often run in tandem with check-fraud scams, money mule scams, or advanced-fee scams. Check our post on 9/30 to read about check-fraud scams. advanced-fee and money mule scams will be covered in future Fraud Fridays!
Back to the subject matter at hand, in any case where funds are illegally obtained, the victim will also be liable for the full amount of money, if/when the check or wire transfer is reversed. It is also possible that the victim's personal information, such as address or bank account information, may be exposed.
Authorities generally advise that anyone who suspects that they are a victim of a parcel mule scam report it to the authorities. People involved in reshipping scams, whether or not they are a willing accomplice, can potentially be charged with several felonies. Authorities also caution consumers not to accept a job offer that requires them to reship goods, not to accept packages at their address from people they don't know, and if strange packages do arrive at their address, not to reship them to another address.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is important to always remember: If it seems too good to be true, it's probably not true.