The job wants me to receive money into my account and send it on. Is that legal?
No. Receiving money from strangers into your account and forwarding it, minus a commission, is money laundering, and the person whose account is used is the first one the bank and the police find. The money comes from other scam victims.
The job title sounds respectable and the explanation sounds plausible: the company is overseas and cannot open a local account yet. Your account can be frozen, you can be prosecuted and you can be held liable for the stolen money.
What to do
- Refuse. No legitimate company routes customer payments through an employee's personal account.
- If money has already arrived, do not forward it: phone your bank and tell them.
- Keep every message about the "job" as evidence that you were deceived.
- Report the offer to SAPS.
- Check the number, email and company name for scam reports before you believe any explanation.
Frequently asked questions
- They also want me to receive parcels and ship them abroad. Is that the same thing?
- Yes. Reshipping is the same scam with stolen goods instead of stolen money.
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