Moving Scams Cost 3 Metro Families More Than $100K, Possessions

CHARLOTTE, NC — Moving day turned into a nightmare for several Charlotte-area families recently when they were ripped off by scammers posing as professional movers. It's a devastating scam that's growing locally and around the country, police said Wednesday.

The moving scams cost the families collectively more than $100,000 in losses, including irreplaceable family heirlooms.

One family had to replace clothing for all member of the family, CMPD Detective Tod Taylor said Wednesday during a news conference.

On the surface, the movers appeared to be legitimate businesses with websites promoting their services.

"Further investigation indicates the initial contact with the suspect during these scams is conducted by a seemingly knowledgeable person, and then continues with an arrival of team members to pick up the furniture, household items and other belongings," CMPD said in a statement. "Once the scammers have loaded the items into the moving vehicle(s), they will ask for partial payment for their services. Instead of travelling to the family’s intended destination, the mover(s) will fake a mechanical issue with their moving vehicle as justification for taking a different route. When the families attempt to make contact with the moving company, they do not receive a response."

One company that said it was based out of Sarasota, Florida, stole $1,700 and thousands of dollars in property, Taylor said. Another company, which said it operated out of Texas, stole property from another family worth more than $100,000, in addition to $4,500 in payment for the move.

"Once they get their money and the property is gone, there's no contact. Nobody will answer their phones," Taylor said.

These cases are occurring all over the U.S., and they oftentimes involve the crossing of state lines, he added.

CMPD offered these tips to help guard against scams when hiring movers:

• Use a local company that someone they trust has recommended
• Once a company has been identified, do some background work before hiring them.
• Make sure the company is bonded, which means they are insured.
• Also check the company out through the North Carolina’s Utility Commission and Better Business Bureau.
• Do not make payment through mobile payment apps.

CMPD released images of three people they called persons of interest in the moving scam cases. Anyone with information about their identity is asked to call 9-1-1, or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.