Moving fraud cost US households more than $35 million in reported losses in 2024, according to FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database. The pattern is consistent year after year: shippers pay a small deposit, the truck arrives, the household goods get held hostage at twice the quoted price.
The good news is that nearly every scam follows the same playbook. If you can recognize the signals below, you can almost always avoid them.
1. The quote arrives without an in-home or video survey
Any reputable interstate mover handling a 2-bedroom or larger home will insist on either an in-home walkthrough or a video survey before issuing a binding estimate. A blind quote based on a phone call is the single most reliable indicator of a problem mover.
If you only need a 1-bedroom local move, a phone or photo estimate is fine. But for anything interstate, walk away from any company that quotes sight-unseen.
2. They demand a large deposit upfront
Industry norms call for either no deposit or a small refundable hold under 20% of the total. A deposit demand of 30% or more — especially via wire transfer, Zelle, or cryptocurrency — is how the goods-hostage scheme starts.
Pay by credit card whenever possible. The chargeback right under the Fair Credit Billing Act is your strongest recovery tool if the move goes sideways.
3. The USDOT number doesn't check out
Every interstate mover has a USDOT and an MC number. Type the number into FMCSA's SAFER tool and confirm the company name matches, the operating authority is active, and the insurance filings are current. If anything mismatches, do not book.