Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to spot these scammers, although no practice is foolproof. The DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) offers a tool allowing you to look up information about the company’s headquarters, registration status, complaint history, and safety records—simply search the company’s name or Passenger Carrier USDOT number on the FMCSA site.
You can also check if the broker or moving company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or simply start your search using a list of BBB accredited companies. (Newsweek also created a list of the moving companies that received the most complaints in 2021 and 2022, so make sure yours isn’t on it.)
Lastly, always get estimates, quotes, and contracts in writing.
Watch out for fake reviews
Being able to spot fake reviews can also help you avoid a scam company before you even give them a call. The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) recommends watching out for the following red flags:
- Reviewers with no prior Reviews: Typically, real reviews come from people with many other previously posted reviews that are visible to anyone online. Fake reviews are often from people who have only posted one online review, or have many purportedly posted reviews, but all of them are private.
- Suspicious timing: Check the dates on the reviews. If many of the reviews were posted within a short period of time, that can be a sign that the testimonials were purchased or created fraudulently.
- Language matters: Fake reviews often contain vague or generic language, while real reviews will be more direct and concrete.
How to report a moving scam
If you find yourself wrapped up in what seems to be a moving scam, report it to the BBB here and to the FMCSA here. You can also file a complaint with the BBB, which will then note your complaint on the business’s record; you can use this as proof of damages when you dispute the charge with your bank.
Find more resources to protect yourself from moving fraud on the FMCSA’s website.
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