How to Avoid Moving Scams

By Hire Moving Labor Editorial Team · Published October 25, 2026

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) runs a consumer program called Protect Your Move that lists the warning signs below. Its rules focus on companies that transport household goods between states, but most of the red flags apply to any moving help you hire.

Red flags FMCSA warns about

An estimate given by phone or online without seeing your belongings, from a company that will be transporting them.
No written estimate, or a promise to set the price after loading.
A demand for cash or a large deposit before the move.
A request to sign blank or incomplete documents.
For interstate moves, no copy of FMCSA's "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet and "Ready to Move" brochure, which movers are required to provide.
A website with no local address and no registration or insurance information.
A claim that all your goods are covered by the mover's insurance.
A claim after loading that you have more belongings than estimated.

What to check before booking

For an interstate move with a company that transports your goods, look up its USDOT number on FMCSA's website.
Read reviews and note whether they describe real jobs.
Get the price, minimum hours, and what is included in writing.
Read the cancellation and refund terms before paying.
Pay by a traceable method, not cash to a stranger.

Labor-only help is a different kind of booking

Hire Moving Labor is a marketplace for independent moving companies, not a moving company. Bookings are labor-only: you arrange the rental truck, trailer, or portable container, and the company you choose provides the crew.

Because you control the truck or container, a labor-only crew never takes your belongings away — which removes the most common scam, holding goods until a higher price is paid. You should still check what you are booking.

How payment and reviews work on Hire Moving Labor

Each company's profile shows its crew sizes, hourly rates, and minimum hours before you book. When you send a request, your card is authorized for the estimated total and only charged if the company accepts; customers do not pay companies directly. Reviews marked "Verified booking" come from bookings completed through the marketplace.

Companies are independent businesses. Hire Moving Labor does not employ crews, and you should still confirm details such as stairs, heavy items, and access with the company you book.

Where to report a problem

For an interstate household goods mover, you can file a complaint with FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database. Fraud can also be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and your state attorney general's consumer protection office handles many local disputes. For a booking made through Hire Moving Labor, contact support from your dashboard.

Before you pay any moving company

Price, minimum hours, and inclusions are in writing.
You have read the cancellation and refund terms.
No blank or incomplete document has been signed.
Payment is traceable — no cash demands or large upfront deposits.
For interstate transport, the USDOT number checks out with FMCSA.
You know who controls the truck or container holding your belongings.

Frequently asked questions

Do labor-only movers need a USDOT number?: FMCSA registration applies to companies that transport household goods across state lines. A crew that only loads or unloads a truck you control is not transporting your goods, but state and local business rules may still apply.
Is it a red flag if a mover asks for a deposit?: FMCSA lists a demand for cash or a large deposit before the move as a red flag. Read the terms and pay by a traceable method.
How do I pay a company booked through Hire Moving Labor?: Through the site's checkout. Your card is authorized when you request and charged only if the company accepts. Customers do not pay companies directly.

Labor-only vs. full-service movers
Who controls the truck and your belongings.
How the marketplace works
Requests, acceptance and payment.
FAQ
Cancellations, refunds and reviews.
What moving labor includes
What a crew does and does not do.

More moving day planning guides

How Late Can Moving Labor Work?
Why there is no standard cutoff, and how evening, late-night, and full-day availability differ in practice.
What to Do When Your Moving Truck Arrives Late at Night
A calm, practical checklist for a truck that lands after dark, and honest options when no crew is available until morning.
How Far in Advance Should You Book Movers?
When to request moving help, which dates fill first, and how to line up the crew with your truck or container.

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