What’s Moving Scams and How to Avoid Such A Situation

Moving scams are one of the most common types of fraud, and can be quite costly for victims. Fraudsters often use moving scams to take advantage of people who have recently moved and are excited about preparing for their new home. By convincing you to pay them money upfront, they can become your mover and then either disappear or move your belongings and sell them.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I sell my furniture?” or “How do I rent a truck?”—you’re exactly their target audience.

They generally go down like this: A company will run an ad on Craigslist, promising a great deal to get your business. They’ll offer to do all the packing, and then they’ll tell you that they can move your stuff for less than half of what it would cost if you did it yourself. You’re in a hurry to move, so you decide to take them up on their offer.

You hire them and give them all your money upfront—or maybe even pay extra for a deposit or something like that—but then they just disappear with your belongings, never to be heard from again.

How to avoid moving scams?

Moving scams are a huge problem. When you’re moving, you’re already stressed out—you don’t need to worry about scammers too. Here’s what you should know so you can avoid falling victim to one:

Ask for references, and follow up on them. If you’re hiring a moving company in Bethesda MD or an individual mover, ask for references from previous customers. Follow up with those references and make sure the company’s claims check out.

Do your research. If you’re hiring a moving company or individual mover, look up reviews of the business online before hiring them. You can also search for complaints about the company at consumer protection agencies in your area.

Be careful about how much money you give upfront. Moving companies often require a deposit before they’ll begin work, but don’t pay more than half of what your total bill will be until everything is done and you’ve had a chance to inspect their workmanship.

Also, if the moving company in Bethesda MD has been in business for more than a year, that’s a good sign. If it was just started up this week and is now offering to move your stuff for half the price of other companies, be wary—you may end up with an inexperienced crew and damaged goods.

Call Great Rate Movers if you are looking for a trusted and local moving company in Bethesda MD. We will give you an upfront quote without any hidden charges.