The Moving Scam

The Toronto Police Service and Investigators from the Financial Crimes Unit want to help so you #DontGetScammed by a Moving Scam. You’re moving, and you need to hire movers, so you start with an online search and compare quotes from different companies. What you may not know is that you’re often seeing quotes from the same company operating under different names. This tactic improves the company’s odds that the customer will choose them and, naturally, you’re drawn towards the least expensive options. On moving day, once the customer’s belongings are loaded into the vehicle and the driver leaves, the customer will get a phone call with a new price that’s much higher than the original quote. If the customer refuses to pay the new price, the moving company refuses to deliver their belongings, and threatens to hold them in a warehouse with accumulating storage fees. These scammers operate several moving companies and usually change their business names after some bad reviews. Protect yourself by: • Getting at least three in-person or virtual estimates and using references from friends and family • Being wary of movers asking for large deposits or making cash demands • Consulting with the Better Business Bureau to see if there is a company record and finding out if they’re accredited movers and • Getting a signed contract prior to the move, detailing cost and extra charges If you are a victim of a Moving Scam, report the fraud to police. Visit tps.ca/fraud for more information and tips so you Don’t Get Scammed.