The moving industry is one of the most complained-about industries in the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) receives thousands of complaints every year about interstate movers, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) processes hundreds more about intrastate movers operating within the state. The complaints follow the same patterns: a company quotes a low price to win the job, then doubles or triples the price after loading the truck. A company loads your belongings and then demands cash before unloading. A company damages furniture and refuses to file a claim. A company takes a deposit and never shows up on moving day. These are not rare occurrences. They happen in Florida every single week.
The good news is that every one of these scams is preventable if you know what to look for and take specific steps before you hire anyone to touch your belongings. This guide covers the most common moving scams, how they work, and exactly what you need to do to protect yourself.
1000sOf FMCSA complaints/year
FL LawRequires mover registration
100%Of scams are preventable
IM-24Frank & Sons - verified
The 5 Most Common Moving Scams in Florida
The lowball bait-and-switch - a company quotes $1,800 when three legitimate movers quoted $3,000-$3,500. On moving day, after your belongings are loaded on the truck, the "final" price becomes $4,500. They cite "extra weight," "additional items," "stair fees," or "long carry charges" that were never mentioned. You either pay the inflated price or they drive away with your belongings. How to avoid it: get at least three written estimates from licensed movers. Any quote significantly below the others is a setup. Insist on in-home surveys, not phone quotes. Get binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimates in writing
The hostage move - the company loads your belongings, drives to the destination, and then refuses to unload until you pay a price far above the estimate. They know you are desperate: you have closed on your old home, your new home is waiting, and your entire household is on their truck. You pay because you have no choice. How to avoid it: never hire a company that demands cash-only payment. Verify their FL Mover Registration and USDOT number before hiring. Read the Bill of Lading before signing. Know that federal law prohibits interstate movers from charging more than 110% of a binding estimate at delivery
The phantom mover - you find a company online with great reviews and a professional website. You book the move and pay a deposit. On moving day, nobody shows up. You call and the number is disconnected. The website goes dark. The company never existed as a real moving operation. It was a deposit-collection scheme with a template website and fake reviews. How to avoid it: verify the physical address by driving past it or checking Google Street View. Verify the FL Mover Registration at the FDACS website. Verify the USDOT at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Check how long the business has existed, not just when the website was created
The broker shuffle - you hire what you think is a moving company, but it is actually a moving broker. The broker takes your money and subcontracts the move to a carrier you have never heard of. On moving day, a random company shows up in an unmarked truck. If something goes wrong, the broker blames the carrier, the carrier blames the broker, and nobody takes responsibility. How to avoid it: ask directly, "Do you own your trucks and employ your own crews, or do you broker moves to other carriers?" A legitimate mover owns their equipment and employs their people. If they hesitate, they are a broker
The damage-and-deny - the company damages your furniture, scratches your floors, breaks dishes, and then refuses to file a damage claim or offers a settlement far below the cost of repair. They claim the damage was "pre-existing," that you signed a waiver, or that the item was "packed by owner" and therefore not their responsibility. How to avoid it: photograph everything before the move. Understand your valuation coverage before moving day. Note any damage on the Bill of Lading before signing at delivery. File claims in writing within the timeframe specified in your contract
Frank & Sons Is the Opposite of Every Scam on This List.
FL Mover IM-24. USDOT 1122554. Physical address: 1117 SE 12th Pl, Cape Coral FL 33990. Own trucks, own crews, no brokers. Written estimates with no surprise charges. In business since 1982. Verify us anytime, anywhere. Call
(239) 574-4151.
Your Pre-Hire Protection Checklist
Verify FL Mover Registration - every mover operating in Florida must be registered with FDACS. Ask for their registration number and verify it online. If they cannot produce one, they are operating illegally
Verify USDOT number for interstate moves - check safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Confirm the company name matches, the authority is active, and the insurance is current. A lapsed authority means they are not legally permitted to move your belongings across state lines
Confirm physical address - search the address on Google Maps. Drive by if possible. A legitimate moving company has a physical office, a warehouse, and trucks with their name on them. A UPS store, a virtual office, or a residential house is a red flag
Get at least three written estimates - compare pricing, services included, estimate type, and terms. The middle quote is usually closest to the real cost. Discard the highest and lowest and evaluate the rest on value, not just price
Insist on an in-home or virtual survey - a company that quotes without seeing your home is guessing at best and setting up a bait-and-switch at worst. A legitimate mover needs to see the scope before quoting
Ask: "Do you own your trucks?" - this single question separates movers from brokers. A mover owns their equipment and employs their crews. A broker owns a phone and a website
Read the Bill of Lading before signing - this is your contract. It should list services, price, pickup and delivery dates, valuation coverage, and payment terms. Do not sign anything you have not read
Photograph everything before the movers arrive - document the condition of your furniture, your floors, your walls, and any pre-existing damage. If a dispute arises after the move, photos are your evidence
What to Do If You Are Being Scammed
If a mover demands more money after loading - do not pay cash under pressure. Ask them to put the new charges in writing and explain what changed from the original estimate. If you believe you are being held hostage, call local law enforcement. For interstate moves, the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Hotline is 1-888-368-7238. In Florida, file a complaint with FDACS at 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352)
If your belongings are being held hostage - federal law requires interstate movers to deliver your shipment if you pay the original estimate amount (or up to 110% of a non-binding estimate). They cannot hold your goods for charges above what was originally quoted. Contact the FMCSA and local law enforcement
If items are damaged or missing - note all damage on the Bill of Lading before signing at delivery. Take photos of everything. File a written claim with the moving company within the timeframe specified in your contract (typically 9 months for interstate moves). If the company does not respond, file complaints with FMCSA and FDACS
Document everything - save all contracts, estimates, emails, text messages, photos, and receipts. If you need to file a complaint, a lawsuit, or an insurance claim, documentation is your most powerful tool
Why Florida Is a High-Risk Moving Market
Population growth. Florida gains thousands of new residents every month. New arrivals searching "movers near me" from out of state have no local knowledge, no referral network, and no way to distinguish a legitimate company from a scam operator. They are the ideal target.
Seasonal demand. Between November and April, snowbirds arrive, seasonal residents return, and moving demand surges. Scam operators set up temporary operations every season to capture this demand, deliver terrible service, and disappear before complaints catch up.
Low barriers to entry. Anyone can rent a truck, print business cards, and post a Craigslist ad offering moving services. Without verifying credentials, consumers have no way to tell the difference between a 40-year licensed company and someone who bought a truck last week.
Post-hurricane recovery. After hurricanes, the demand for movers surges as damaged homes are cleared and families relocate. Disaster-related moves attract predatory operators who exploit families in crisis situations. Southwest Florida experienced this after Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Related Resources from Frank & Sons
Moving Scam Red Flags - 8 specific warning signs that a moving company is a scam, with a protection checklist
Mover Horror Stories - real scenarios of what goes wrong when families hire the wrong company, with lessons from each
Hiring a Mover - step-by-step guide to finding, vetting, and hiring a legitimate moving company in Southwest Florida
Choose a Mover You Can Verify. Choose Frank & Sons.
FL Mover IM-24. USDOT 1122554. Physical address: 1117 SE 12th Pl, Cape Coral FL 33990. Phone: (239) 574-4151. Own trucks, own crews, no brokers, no subcontractors. Written estimates with no surprise charges. In continuous operation since 1982.
Every item on the protection checklist above — we pass all of them. Call
(239) 574-4151 for a free, no-obligation moving quote.
Avoiding a moving scam is not complicated. It requires verification, not trust. Verify the registration. Verify the USDOT. Verify the address. Get written estimates. Ask if they own their trucks. Read the contract. Photograph everything. These steps take 30 minutes and protect thousands of dollars of belongings and months of stress. Frank & Sons Moving and Storage has been earning the trust of Southwest Florida families since 1982 by being the kind of company that never requires you to take our word for it. Verify us. Then hire us.
Ready to hire a mover you can trust? Call (239) 574-4151 or fill out our contact form for a free quote.
