Moving Words – Moving Fraud Crackdown
Timothy Brady
“Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.” – Sophocles
On April 4th, 2023, the FMCSA announced the start of Operation Protect Your Move, a nationwide enforcement effort on scam movers. The FMSCA deployed several dozen investigators across the nation to crack down on a sizable increase in complaints from consumers of unscrupulous movers holding their household goods hostage with the intent to coerce additional charges from them. The FMCSA is also addressing complaints against moving companies and brokers who are not in compliance with Federal safety and consumer protection regulations. The operation is going after the brokers who connect consumers to local movers, enabling fraud by promoting scams.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “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. If you’re planning a move, we encourage you to visit protectyourmove.gov for more information to help protect yourself from moving scammers.”
So now, we’re three-plus months into the 2023 summer moving season, and what type of success is Operation Protect Your Move having?
A recent three-week enforcement sweep with dozens of highly trained FMCSA investigators conducted over 100 investigations across 16 states. The result was 60 enforcement actions that may result in cancellation of operating authority for several movers and brokers.
FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson stated, “We’ve made great progress in identifying scam movers and brokers, but we can’t do this alone. We must work with partners across federal and state government to make the greatest impact.”
To continue to combat against household goods scammers the agency has established the Household Goods State Enforcement Partnership Program to increase the results of collective enforcement efforts. State agencies participating in this program have access to the FMCSA enforcement databases. These state agencies will also receive free training on federal regulations and laws and will receive joint investigation support with the FMCSA, thus increasing the investigative actions and enforcement of the Federal regulations. As of July 13th, 2023, eleven state agencies, including four State Attorney General offices have become partners. The FMCSA is expecting at least four more state partners by the end of September.
In addition, the FMCSA has formed an internal technical advisory group to assist in future moving scam investigations and enforcement. They’re implementing improved training programs for investigators plus more personnel. Add to this, their expansion on consumer education with concerted outreach that includes a digital toolkit containing updated videos, checklists, and other beneficial information to assist consumers in planning their interstate move, with a focus on red flags to watch for to avoid becoming a victim of a move fraud.
“There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny.” Frederick William Robertson
