How to Avoid Moving Scams
Moving scams affect thousands of families every year. Learn to recognize the warning signs, understand common tactics, and know exactly what to do if you become a victim.
Common Moving Scams
These are the most frequently reported scams in the moving industry. Knowing how they work is the first step to protecting yourself.
Hostage Goods
The mover loads your belongings onto the truck, then demands significantly more money than the agreed price before unloading. Your possessions are essentially held hostage.
How It Works
After loading, the driver claims the shipment weighs more than estimated or invents extra charges. They refuse to deliver until you pay the inflated price, often in cash.
How to Protect Yourself
Always get a binding or binding not-to-exceed estimate in writing. Pay by credit card when possible for chargeback protection. Never agree to last-minute price changes.
Lowball Estimates
A company provides an unrealistically low quote to win your business, then dramatically increases the price on moving day.
How It Works
The estimate may be given over the phone without an in-home survey, or the estimator deliberately undercounts items. On moving day, surprise charges for stairs, long carries, packing, or extra weight appear.
How to Protect Yourself
Get in-home or detailed virtual estimates from at least three companies. If one quote is significantly lower than the others, treat it as a red flag, not a bargain.
Unmarked Trucks and Fake Companies
Rogue operators use rented trucks with no company branding. They may operate under constantly changing names to avoid bad reviews.
How It Works
These operators advertise low prices online, collect deposits, and sometimes disappear before moving day. Others show up but provide terrible service with no accountability.
How to Protect Yourself
Verify the USDOT and MC numbers. Check if the company has a physical address. Look for consistent branding on trucks and uniforms. Research the company name and owner online.
The Disappearing Deposit
A company collects a large upfront deposit, then either cancels, goes silent, or never shows up on moving day.
How It Works
Scam companies create professional-looking websites and collect deposits online. They may confirm your move repeatedly, then vanish the day before or simply not show up.
How to Protect Yourself
Never pay a large deposit before moving day. Legitimate movers typically require little to no deposit for local moves. Use a credit card for any advance payments.
Bait and Switch
The company that shows up on moving day is not the one you hired. Your move was subcontracted to a different, often lower-quality operator.
How It Works
Some companies act as brokers, not actual movers. They take your booking, then sell your move to the lowest bidder. The actual mover may have different terms, quality, and pricing.
How to Protect Yourself
Ask directly whether the company uses its own trucks and employees. Confirm who will actually perform the move. Check that the USDOT number on the truck matches the company you hired.
Warning Signs Checklist
If you notice even one of these red flags, proceed with extreme caution. Multiple red flags mean you should find a different mover.
- The company has no physical office address or uses only a PO box
- They provide an estimate over the phone without seeing your belongings
- The estimate seems too good to be true compared to other quotes
- They demand a large cash deposit before moving day
- The contract is vague about pricing, dates, or liability
- They are not registered with the FMCSA or lack a USDOT number
- Online reviews are either nonexistent or overwhelmingly negative
- The company name is very new with no operational history
- They pressure you to sign immediately or claim a special deal that expires today
- They refuse to provide references from past customers
What to Do If You Are Scammed
If you believe you have been the victim of a moving scam, take these steps as quickly as possible to protect yourself and help prevent others from being victimized.
Document everything
Keep all contracts, communications, photos of damage, and receipts. Write down dates, times, and names of everyone you spoke with.
File a complaint with the FMCSA
For interstate moves, file a complaint at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov. The FMCSA can investigate and take enforcement action against the company.
Contact your state attorney general
Your state AG office handles consumer protection. File a complaint through their website to put the company on record.
File with the Better Business Bureau
A BBB complaint creates a public record and may prompt the company to resolve your issue to protect their rating.
Dispute the charges with your credit card company
If you paid by credit card, file a chargeback for services not rendered or fraud. This is why paying by credit card is always recommended.
Consider small claims court
For damages up to your state limit (typically $5,000-$10,000), small claims court is an accessible and affordable way to seek restitution without a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common moving scam?
The most common scam is the lowball estimate, where a company offers an unrealistically low price to secure your booking, then dramatically inflates the cost on moving day with surprise charges for weight, stairs, packing, or other extras.
Can movers legally hold my stuff hostage?
No. While movers can place a lien on your belongings for unpaid charges, they cannot demand amounts significantly higher than the written estimate. Federal law limits charges on delivery to 110% of a non-binding estimate. If a mover refuses to release your goods, file a complaint with the FMCSA immediately.
How do I know if a moving company is a broker?
Ask directly if they will perform the move with their own trucks and crew. Check their FMCSA registration: brokers are registered as Brokers, not Carriers. If the truck that shows up has a different company name than who you booked with, you likely hired a broker.
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