The Better Business Bureau, (BBB) is receiving new reports about job seekers being lured into what is known as a ‘reshipping scam’ or ‘forwarding scam’. This is a scam in which foreign criminals purchase merchandise with a stolen or fake credit card and then hire U.S. citizens to have it shipped to their country.
Best Buy has informed the BBB that their name is being used in one of these scams. The scam targets unsuspecting job seekers via email with a solicitation to become a gift wrapper for Best Buy. The company has confirmed that it does not solicit or accept job applications or resumes via e-mail.
Another recent report involves a Web site called, www.1-stop-shopper.com which advertises as a concierge service for personal shopping. Employment offered on this site is for a ‘mail manager’ position. A resident in Alabama contacted the BBB after she started working for them due to suspicions. The second package she received to ship contained dozens of pre paid SIM cards. They turned out to be paid for with a stolen credit card and the owner of the credit card incurred six other fraudulent charges.
The BBB offers the following tips regarding this and other employment scams:
- Avoid job listings that use descriptions like: “package forwarding,” “reshipping,” “money transfers,” “wiring funds” and “foreign agent agreements.”
- Do not be fooled by official-sounding corporate names. Some scam artists operate under names that sound like those of long-standing, reputable firms.
- Never forward or transfer money from any of your personal accounts on behalf of your employer. Also, be suspicious if you are asked to “wire” money to an employer. If a legitimate job requires you to make money transfers, the money should be withdrawn from the employer’s business account, not yours.
- Do not give out your personal financial information. A potential legitimate employer will not request your bank account, credit card or Paypal account number. Only provide your banking information if you are hired by a legitimate company and you choose to have your paycheck direct deposited.
- Do not fax copies of your ID or Social Security number to someone you have never met. Credit checks and fake IDs can be obtained with this information. Only give these documents to your employer when you are physically at the place of employment.
- If you have been offered or have gotten involved in a foreign employment scam, immediately contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: www.ic3.gov / 800 251-3221.
