MAGNOLIA
CLIPPING SERVICE
(601) 856·0911 I (205) 758·8610
MS LINK
JACKSON, MS
Circulation =2450
WEEKLY
05/27/2010
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Shipping
go
scams
By Monica land
Contributing Writer I'
A report of a charge on a stolen
credit card led to the discovery of
a home business scam operating
in central Mississippi, Atlomey
General Jim Hood said.
"We're still in the early phase
of investigation, but the case is
a reminder that the cons are out
there, trying to take advantage of
our residents during an economi­
cally stressed time," Hood said.
"We want to warn our residents
to be careful and be alert for these
types of horne business scams."
Hood said the home business
scam, or reshipping fraud, oJten
slurtS when a person responds to
an ad for a job opening, some­
times online, in print or by email.
The potential applicant is
promised a substantial amount of
money to receive, repackage and
mail merehandise ordered online
and then ship it to a foreign ad­
dress.
Unknown to the person work­
ing out of their home, the mer­
chandise was purchased using
stolen credit cards.
The reshipping job opportuni­
ties can appear anywhere, includ­
ing local newspapers and well­
known job placement websites.
When an applicant answers the
ad, they are typically asked for
personal information including
their social security number and
date of birth. That infonnation is
eventually used to steal the appli­
cants identity and perpetrate the
fraud even further.
Typically, payment for repack­
aging arrives in the fonn of a
third party cashier's check. These
cashier's checks are usually more
than the amount initially agreed
upon and the employer will re­
quest that the overpay be returned
to them electronically. Once the
check "clears" the bank, it turns
out to be phony and the reshipper
is left responsible for the entire
amount of the check.
Additionally, the reshipper or
byAG
the victim, could have troubles
with law enforcement for repack­
aging and shipping merchandise
purchased with stolen credit
cards.
Hood's office said in a recently
discovered case, operating from a
home in Jackson, the homeowner
stated that he wa~ just trying to
earn some extra money when he
responded to a job offer by emaiL
The scam was uncovered when
the owner of a stolen credit card
reported the unauthorized charge
to the Jackson Police Depart­
ment, who asked for assistance
from the Attorney General's Of­
fice before visiting the home
where the reshipping scam was
occurring.
One out-of-state business own­
er who had shipped merchandise
in the local reshipping scam told
the Attorney General investi!,,'a­
tor working the case that he had
been saved $2,400 by "busting
up the operation."
Another business employee
said they were in the process
of shipping out more items and
were spared that added potential
loss.
General Hood gave several
tips to avoid being scammed.
"If you see an ad for a home
business opportunity that prom­
ises easy and high income, be
wary," he said.
"If it sounds too good to be
true, it probably is. Never give
out your personal infonnation
to a person you don't know or a
company you have never heard
of Be skeptical of any oppor­
tunity that doesn't pay a regular
salary or engages a foreign com­
pany. Research a company by
checking with the Federal Trade
Commission, Better Business
Bureau or theAtt;;;;:;ey General's
Offi'ce."
"This is a very lucrative busi­
ness for the con artists," Hood
said. "Our best defense is to edu­
cate our residents so they don't
fall prey."