The Internet RESHIPPING Scam

Simply stated, the "reshipping" scam requires individuals in the United States, who sometimes are coconspirators and other times are unwitting accomplices, to receive packages at their residence and subsequently repackage the merchandise for shipment, usually abroad.

The most common way that Americans are being recruited is through Internet Relay Chat Rooms. The scammers befriend a lonely chat room person and appear to offer tham something they need- such as love or friendship.

There is often some identity theft involved. Often unknown subjects are asked to post help-wanted advertisements at popular Internet job search sites and respondents quickly reply to the online advertisement. As part of the application process, the prospective employee is required to complete an employment application, wherein he/she divulges sensitive personal information, such as their date of birth and social security number which, unbeknownst to the victim employee, will be used to obtain credit in his/her name.

The applicant is informed he/she has been hired and will be responsible for forwarding, or "reshipping", merchandise purchased in the United States to the company's overseas home office. The packages quickly begin to arrive and, as instructed, the employee dutifully forwards the packages to their overseas destination. Unbeknownst to the "reshipper," the recently received merchandise was purchased with fraudulent credit cards numbers. The identity theft aspect can happen in a matter of minutes.

Often the scammer will use the unknown individual in various Internet Relay Chat Rooms to do the shipping instead of the recruiting. After establishing this new online "friendship" or "love" relationship, the unknown subject explains for some 'good reason' such as various legal reasons his/her country will not allow direct business shipments into his/her country from the United States. He/she then asks for permission to send recently purchased items to the victim's United States address for subsequent shipment abroad for which the unknown subject explains he/she will cover all shipping expenses.

After the United States citizen agrees, the packages start to arrive at great speed. This fraudulent scheme lasts several weeks until the "reshipper" is contacted. The victimized merchants explain to the "reshipper" the recent shipments were purchased with fraudulent credit cards. Shortly thereafter, the strings of attachment are untangled and the boyfriend/girlfriend realizes their Cyber relationship was nothing more than an Internet scam to help facilitate the transfer of goods purchased online by fraudulent means.

If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with the FBI.

Source; the FBI