The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched Operation Protect Your Move, a nationwide crackdown on moving scams ahead of the busy summer moving season.
“Moving is stressful enough without having to worry about being scammed by your moving company, so we’re cracking down on moving companies that hold people’s possessions hostage, and the brokers who facilitate that fraud,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a Department of Transportation (DOT) press release issued on April 4. “If you’re planning a move, we encourage you to visit protectyourmove.gov for more information to help protect yourself from moving scammers.”
The agency will deploy dozens of investigators to address complaints of movers holding household possessions hostage to extort additional charges from consumers, the release reports. The agency receives frequent complaints that allege moving companies use deceptive business practices to charge consumers higher fees, experience delays in getting their household goods delivered, or in some cases not receiving their possessions at all.
The operation will cover both movers and brokers who promote scams, the agency reports. The FMCSA aims to protect consumers from moving scams and formally document violations. It has the authority to revoke licenses of movers and brokers, the release reports. Cases of potential criminal misconduct may be referred to the Department of Justice.
FMCSA has also enhanced partnerships with consumer protection and attorney general offices across the country, according to the release. Consumers can visit the agency’s National Consumer Complaints Database to file a complaint against a regulated company or visit ProtectYourMove.gov to view videos on spotting red flags and download a moving checklist.
“FMCSA takes its responsibilities very seriously to help protect consumers when moving their household valuables from one state to another,” FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson said in the release. “Consumers should feel confident they can trust the company hired to transport their possessions.”
