| Summer is the prime season for moving. Whether you’re relocating across the country for work, downsizing to a new home or sending a kid off to college, choosing the right moving company should be at the top of your to-do list. Placing your trust in a company to transport your belongings safely and securely at the agreed-upon price is a significant commitment, and unfortunately, scammers often exploit the stress and anxiety of moving. Here’s what to know to protect you and your possessions from a costly moving scam. |
| How It Works• You see enticing ads for cheap moving options online or in print.•The “affordable” mover offers you an estimate by phone without coming to assess the work effort.•They might demand a hefty deposit, or even full payment, in advance.•The mover may ask you to sign a blank or incomplete form, saying they’ll fill it in later. What You Should Know• Moving scams are committed by rogue operators that exist primarily online.•With your deposit in hand, the “movers” may simply not show up at the appointed time and place.•Or they’ll try to change the deal at the last minute, jacking up the price or adding fees, which can double the cost of your move.•In the worst case, the movers might disappear with your stuff, abandon it in a storage facility or refuse to deliver unless you fork over more money, a scenario known as a “hostage load. ”What You Should Do• Get referrals from relatives, friends or neighbors who have moved recently or from real estate agents.•Research companies you are considering. Look up their Better Business Bureau profiles, and use the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to review an interstate mover’s registration status and complaint history.•Get everything in writing — including estimates. If there are any changes, insist on a revised estimate before any packing or loading begins.•Use a credit card when paying so you have its protection in the event of a dispute. |
| Reprinted from AARP Fraud Watch Network |