For countless Americans the month of May signifies a major transition in their lives. Whether it is graduating from high school or college, starting a new job or receiving that highly anticipated acceptance letter, May marks the beginning of the busiest time in the nation for moving.
It’s also a busy time for scammers. The Better Business Bureau says it fielded nearly 1,100 complaints against moving companies last year. BBB’s Scam Tracker had reports of more than $730,000 lost to moving scammers, a 216% increase from 2020.
Josh Planos with the BBB in Nebraska says this is a good time for consumers to educate themselves on how to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous companies.
He says one of the most reported scams by those who moved is getting a quote and paying a deposit, but the mover never shows. Other scams include the mover claiming the load is heavier than expected and wants an additional fee and the truck fails to appear at the destination. “Either your things are gone, or the company demands an additional fee to have them delivered. Your possessions are held hostage,” the BBB says.
Click here for advice and tips on how to find a reputable company.