Recognize the pattern
How it starts
Remote job sites or assistant-role emails.
The promise
Receive parcels at home without special skills.
What happens next
Your address obscures shipments, original packaging is discarded, and promised wages fail to arrive.
Signs to watch for
- Asks you to discard original invoices
- Senders differ from the employer
- Cannot explain ownership of goods
Start with what you can do now
If this happened to you
Stop forwarding packages and keep shipping records.
Contact the carrier and local law enforcement for instructions.
If you shared identity details, use IdentityTheft.gov to review protective steps.
What to save
Keep the original records. Use copies to organize the details.
- Recruitment contract
- Parcel labels
- Forwarding addresses
- Work instructions
Before you send money
- Do not accept a job forwarding packages for an unverified business.
- Verify the employer before sharing identity information.
- Be cautious of instructions to remove receipts or hide the original sender.
These guides explain common patterns. The facts of your situation and your payment provider’s rules determine which steps are available.