How to recognize moving scams (Long Distance Moving)

Moving scams are so rampant the federal government even has a task force cracking down on it. Ask a few friends and you're sure to find someone close to you who has been bitten by these scumbags. But after interviews with dozens of moving company owners and studying hundreds of reviews, we're here to give you the knowledge you need to protect yourself (and your wallet!).

Moving scams are so common that Congress has weighed in. By federal law, movers are required to give you a booklet called “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.” They are required to provide this while you’re in the planning stages of your move, not after they show up with the truck. Bottom line: if a mover skips this step, at minimum you know they’re not doing right by you.

The scams

• Organized crime is big in the moving business and police are mostly powerless if you fall prey. Picture your powerlessness after they’ve loaded your belongings in the truck and drove away - then stopped returning your calls. Sometimes you’ll get calls from new numbers demanding 3 times the price, with no guarantee you’ll actually see your belongings again. Their website disappears, phone number disconnects, and you’re in a bind. Bottom line: don’t let this happen to you. Choose your mover based on referrals, comb through online reviews, call the mover’s corporate phone line on their website, and find your mover on https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/search-mover.
• Hurrying the resident to sign a contract without reading it is a classic con artist move. They talk fast, wave the paper around, tell you what a hurry they’re in, pretend like they’re saving you time and headache. There’s a reason they want you to sign the new contract: it advantages them somehow. Some residents have even been pressured into signing a blank contract.  Bottom line: anyone who tries to pressure or hurry you into signing something is not to be trusted. If necessary, break away from their performance by taking the contract into another room and reading through it with a trusted party like a family member. Some smart families detect the risk is too great, so they tell the scamming mover to get lost, then hire a U-Haul and find alternative help on a site like thumbtack.com or bellhop.com.
• Multi-hop moving is one of the nightmare scenarios every resident fears. Especially common in long, interstate moves, dishonest movers will truck your belongings to a warehouse somewhere to wait until it’s convenient for them (in other words, until they already have a truck going your way).  These warehouses often have leaky roofs, unmanaged pests like cockroaches and mice, and problems with theft. There’s also a high chance of your belongings being damaged by the extra handling or mixed in with someone else’s stuff. On top of all that, it can take weeks or months to receive your goods, by which time mold or stains have ruined them. Bottom line: make sure you read reviews, ask the salesperson in writing if your belongings will be taken straight to your destination, and consider putting tracking devices in your belongings.
• Make sure movers don't show up with an empty gas tank, load up, gas up, and then weigh the truck. Gas tank on a truck can be $1k of moving weight.

Our recommendations:

• Don't go with the cheapest mover. Avoid brokers. Look up the major van lines and get multiple quotes.
• Mover insurance basically doesn't exist. It's $0.60 per pound, so a $800 TV is insured for $4. Homeowners usually covers catastrophic damage like a car accident, but you'll be on the hook for anything else. There are special mover insurance companies, but YMMV.
• Moving industry regulators warn against inventories done over the phone. Although some honest movers feel it’s good enough for some short local moves, a quote that doesn’t include visual inspection and photo documentation of your belongings leaves you exposed. Dishonest moving companies will leave things off the inventory, underbid the job, and you’ll be high and dry once your goods are in their truck. Make sure high-value items like laptops are documented clearly with photos and in the written inventory. Bottom line: use a visual survey tool like Come Home AI.
• Try to avoid putting down a deposit, but especially be wary of large deposits. Some deposit might be fair: reserving a truck and workers for you does cost the moving company money, and they have bills to pay too. But anything over 25% or $2k should cause you to consider. It may be possible to negotiate the deposit, so don’t be afraid to ask.  It’s not uncommon for a mover to charge a deposit, then try to force you to cancel by doubling the price or changing the move date so they can keep the cash for no work. Bottom line: you’re the customer, push back on deposits.
• You deserve to know the cost up-front, so be honest with your mover (and do it in writing where possible).  Super heavy items like safes, pool tables, and exercise machines will incur a higher charge - but it’s better to negotiate this up front from a position of power. 
• Similarly, multiple flights of stairs, broken elevators, or not being able to park near your dwelling also make things harder on the movers, who deserve fair pay for their sweat & effort. You’ll get a better price (and better attitudes from your movers) if everyone knows what they’re getting into. Bottom line: disclose everything in writing and make sure the quote reflects your personal circumstance.
• Put a GPS or airtag in with your belongings!

If you have a dispute with your mover, it’s often fair to try to resolve it with them first. If necessary, ask to speak with management. But if they’re not responsive within 30 days, consider filing a formal complaint with the company, getting the BBB involved, or reporting them to the FMCSA.

By staying vigilant and knowing the warning signs, you can avoid falling victim to moving scams. Remember to trust your instincts and choose a reputable moving company that prioritizes transparency and customer satisfaction.