How To Identify Moving Scams

Anyone who is planning a move needs to know how to identify moving scams. In moving scams, deceptive moving companies, known as "rogue movers," quote a low price, pack up a person's belongings onto their truck, and then demand a much higher price to deliver the items to their destination. Learn to identify moving scams to protect your money and belongings during a move.

1. Suspect a moving scam if a moving company gives you an extremely low quote. Quotes that are too good to be true are a common feature in all moving scams. The scammers want you to fall for their low quote so that they can get their hands on your possessions and use them to extort more money from you. Call several moving companies and get competing quotes; if one company gives you a quote that is way below the others' quotes, it's probably a scam.
2. Prepare for trouble if the quote is not based on a careful inspection of the items you want to move. Noticing if a moving company provides a quote without looking at the things you want to move is key to identifying moving scams. To give an accurate quote, movers need to count your items and make measurements. A company that gives a quote without taking these important steps may be trying to draw you into a moving scam.
3. Watch out for moving companies that don't offer much information about themselves. Reputable moving companies have identifiable names, addresses and phone numbers. They offer information about their insurance, and they supply references. A moving company website that's short on details is a sure sign of a moving scam.