Moving Company Scam
Fraudulent movers provide low estimates, then hold belongings hostage for inflated prices. Some disappear with possessions.
🚩 Red Flags
- ⚠Quote significantly lower than competitors
- ⚠No physical address
- ⚠Large deposit upfront
- ⚠Can't provide USDOT number
🛡️ Protect Yourself
- →VERIFY FMCSA registration at fmcsa.dot.gov
- →GET in-home estimates
- →GET binding written estimate
- →If held hostage: file police report
More Details
- “Lowest rates guaranteed!”
- “The weight was more than estimated”
- “Pay new amount or we keep your stuff”
- “Cash only for the remaining balance”
Common Questions
Low quote, then demand more after loading. Some hold belongings hostage. Verify at fmcsa.dot.gov and get binding written estimates.
Document everything. File police report and FMCSA complaint. Don't pay inflated amounts without documenting protest.
Verify state license. Get 3+ written estimates. Never pay full amount upfront. Check BBB.
No. Cash eliminates your paper trail. Use check or credit card. Never full amount upfront.
Report This Scam
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Warn Someone You Know
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73% of Americans targeted(Pew, 2025)
|$470M lost to text scams in 2024(FTC)
|$16.6B total losses(FBI IC3, 2024)