Remote Workers, Beware of Parcel Mule Scams

Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland

Work-from-home job seekers, beware. In the first three months of 2023, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker received reported employment scam losses of nearly $840,000, up over 250% compared to last year.

With a median loss of over $1,500 during that timeframe, job hunters tell BBB the financial impact is devastating and remote employment continues to be an enticing perk to many job seekers.

Unfortunately, scammers like to capitalize on this very favorable attribute and often post descriptions for fake work-from-home jobs. Recently, Better Business Bureau^® (BBB^®) released a detailed investigative white paper describing skyrocketing reports of job scams. Now, Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland is specifically warning job hunters to be on the lookout for reshipping or “parcel mule” scams steaming from two fulfillment services reportedly in the Cleveland area. This is based on numerous Scam Tracker reports from around the country.

In a parcel mule or reshipping, scam job seekers are “hired” by a company under the guise of performing warehousing, shipping, or fulfillment duties which are actually just relabeling parcels shipped to the consumer’s residence to be forwarded to a new address. The pay is often very high for the type of work being performed. Consumers who find themselves involved with this type of scam are often unknowingly aiding scammers with money laundering and possibly other offenses.

The two operations reportedly based in the Cleveland area are Leading Optimity of Euclid and AB Fulfillment (aka Amazon Fulfillment, A+B Fulfillment) on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland. Consumer Scam Tracker reports regarding these two companies have been very similar. A woman from the Columbus area told BBB about her “employment” experience with Leading Optimity.

“I worked for this company for a little over a month now but never received a paycheck, I shipped out packages via UPS or FedEx. I was supposed to get paid 3000 dollars on the 4th of May and still have not received (my paycheck) and the lady who I have been in contact with during this period of time has not responded back.”

Likewise, a Louisiana-based consumer told BBB about their experience with AB Fulfillment. “In May of 2023 I was contacted by phone, then by an e-mail from Julie Benton to work remotely. I would be sent packages. I was told that my job was to check these packages and then mail them off. Before accepting the offer, which was $3000 after a monthly trial and then $1500 bi-weekly, I checked their website, because I didn’t remember applying, as I had been applying to a ton of jobs. The site seemed legit, and Julie was answering all of my emails up until after the payday (was supposed to) arrive. This was heartbreaking because I’ve been looking for employment for over 2 years, and I thought this was legit.”

Neither of these consumers ever received a paycheck. These two experiences were just a few submitted to BBB about Leading Optimity and AB Fulfillment. BBB requests for information to Leading Optimity and AB Fulfillment have gone unanswered. BBB attempted to reach both businesses by phone and email.

Leading Optimity’s phone is disconnected and calls to AB Fullfillment’s number end up in an automatic hang-up or busy tone. BBB is recommending consumers who believe they may be involved with a parcel mule or reshipping scam to cease communications with the company and notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov/, and contact the United States Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov, as well.

BBB is also providing the following tips for job seekers on how to spot a reshipping scam:
Research companies offering jobs at BBB.org. Also, conduct an internet search to see if other consumers have reported a bad or possible “scammy” experience with the company.

Check the email address of the recruiter or company representative to ensure it is connected to the company and not a personal “Gmail” or “Yahoo” address. It is a “red flag” if the company is using a free email provider.

Be cautious about providing personal information to unverified recruiters and online applications you don’t remember applying for. Don’t pay for a job, initial on-the-job onboarding/training, or work for a “free trial period.

To find out more about reshipping and employment scams, check out BBB.org/employmentscam. If you’ve been targeted by this scam, please help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience on the BBB Scam Tracker.