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scheme requires individuals in the United States, who sometimes are coconspirators and other times are unwitting accomplices, to receive packages at their residence and repackage the merchandise for shipment, usually abroad. Typically this merchandise was purchased with fraudulent credit cards and the scam unravels when the defrauded merchants begin to contact the reshipper.

Reshippers are often recruited through employment offers and in online chat rooms. As part of the employment application process, the victim is required to divulge personal information such as Social Security number and date of birth, which is then used to obtain credit in the victim's name.

Third Party Receiver of Funds

In a work-at-home scheme, a scammer in a foreign country solicits assistance from U.S. citizens. The scammer claims to be posting internet auctions but can't receive the payments from the auctions directly due to being outside the U.S. and recruits the victim to act as a third party receiver of fundsfunds that come from still other victims who think they are making a legitimate online purchase but who never receive their merchandise. The third party receiver of funds receives the money and wires it to the scammer. The scam typically comes to light when the victims complain about not receiving their merchandise.

Many online scams are obvious, but there are plenty of very sophisticated and creative criminals working on the internet. Your best strategy is to be suspiciousremember, it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you. Insist on verifying the legitimacy of every online transaction with an unfamiliar entity and never give out personal information unless you initiated the contact and are certain of the authenticity of the site or individual you're dealing with.

Learn more about this author, Jacquelyn Lynn.
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