Reliable Car Transportation Company Scams

According to several studies, car transportation company scams are all over the Internet. While this is not to say that most car shipping websites are fake, nearly all victims of car shipping scams have hound the shipping company on the Internet and been lured into fake online deals.

On the Internet, a scamming car shipping company may copy the website of a legitimate car shipper. They refer to the names, websites and reviews of authentic shippers and claim to have connections or affiliations. It is really difficult to distinguish which is which based on websites alone.

The best way to counter this devious scheme is to look for shipping companies from a phone book or through a car shipping agent. Look for one that has been in your area for a long time and perhaps had conducted business with your neighbors, friends or relatives. Get in touch with a shipping company over the phone or by personally visiting their business office. You can also request that they pay you a visit and conduct negotiations in the safety of your own home.

If you can find at least three car shipping companies in your area to choose from, that can be very helpful. Request for free car shipping quotes and compare to see which one makes the most sense. Visit these companies and ask all the questions you need to know to make sure that they are really what they are. Check out their carrier trucks, moving equipments, storage area, and branding. Make sure that their company names and logo are permanently fixed on their trucks and offices. This says that the company will not move away anytime soon.

If it turned out that you contacted a subcontractor that does not ship cars themselves, move on to your next option. As much as possible, avoid transacting with middlemen and business partners. Doing so opens up more chances for fraud. As they deal directly with the shipper, they can jack up the actual shipping cost and end up earning more money than necessary. They could get the job done, but at the same time leave your pocket empty.

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Always check the credentials of the shipping company you are dealing with, especially when you are transacting business online. Watch out for companies that cannot offer to show any track record or list of satisfied customers. Also, hire only a shipping company that has license from the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You could also check with the Better Business Bureau or BBB for the legitimacy and trustworthiness of the shipper you are planning to hire.

About payment, car transportation company scams are usually paid off through Western Union or MoneyGram. Scammers avoid payment by bank, because bank payments are traceable. In the first place, illegitimate companies do not have bank accounts. Finally, to make sure you are not being scammed, ask a car shipping company for its full company name, office address, phone numbers, track record, DOT license number, website and email address, and references.