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Moving is stressful, expensive, and time-consuming! That makes it a perfect opportunity for scammers. If you are relocating and need help transporting your vehicle, watch out for this scam.
How the scam works
You search the internet for a vehicle transport service, hoping to get a quote. After browsing a few companies, you find one offering a great deal. All you have to do is send them a deposit of a few hundred dollars, usually via a digital wallet service.
Once the deposit is made, you get a pickup date, but no one shows up when the date rolls around. The company may tell you that the driver was held up, but any attempts to contact that person are fruitless. You may not even be able to get in contact with the company anymore. Ultimately, you’ll have lost any money you paid to a fake company with no intention of transporting anything.
However, some versions of this scam are more extreme. A few consumers reported to BBB Scam Tracker a variation where the “company” did transport their vehicles. The problems began when they wanted to pick up the car at their destination. The company asked for more money than previously agreed, essentially holding the car, truck, or motorcycle hostage.
One consumer reported this experience: “They offered me a low cheap quote to transport my car from California to Florida. They made me pay $50 through PayPal to book it. The day of pick up nobody called me. I called later in the afternoon twice and nobody answered. I emailed as well and no reply. I texted them twice and about 3 hours later they said the driver crashed his truck and they were gonna check the next if they had another driver. The company doesn't appear on the USDOT website."
How to avoid vehicle transport scams
- Do thorough research to find a reputable shipping company. When it comes to expensive services and important, high-dollar possessions, doing research is critical. Plenty of reputable transport companies are out there for you to find. Look for companies with verifiable contact information, good customer service, and reviews on third-party websites. Avoid companies that don’t have a website, are difficult to contact, or have poor or no reviews. A good place to start your research is right here on BBB.org. You can also search for registered movers on the USDOT's website.
- Watch out for deals that sound too good to be true. If a company quotes you a price significantly lower than the market value for a service or product, consider it a red flag. In this scam (and many others), scammers try to lure their victims with unrealistic prices.
- Think about how you make payments. Don’t forget that payments made through digital wallet apps are essentially cash payments. These services are designed to be used with people you trust. Instead, pay with your credit card. It’s easier to contest fraudulent charges on your credit card. Also, never make payments for services by wiring money or with prepaid debit cards. Anyone who requests payment this way is probably a scammer. See these tips from Cash App on identifying scams.
For more information
Get more advice and tips on avoiding scams by visiting BBB's Scam HQ.
See a list of vehicle transport services near you.
If you spot a scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help boost awareness about common scams.