How to Avoid Common Texas Car Shipping Scams
If you’re looking for car shipping providers, you might be confused by the large selection of carriers. That’s good because you can find competitive rates and good deals. The downside is that there’s always a chance of making a mistake and being scammed.
When it comes to car shipping in Texas, it’s a big market. The number of transportation companies on it is growing since everyone wants a piece of this profitable cake. It’s clear that new carriers have yet to fight for their place under the sun, but some of them use unethical methods to earn profits.
Car transportation scams happen to those who make rash decisions and don’t research. And if you don’t check the company’s reputation and track record but only run for low rates, it can cost you a lot. Many of these carriers don’t even exist, and this is just one of the many scams you can run into if you’re not careful.
Low Rates Too Good to be True
Let us explain to you how the most common fraud scheme works. Shipping rates are one of the most important factors when choosing a carrier, but many think of it as the only deciding parameter. Scammers know that, and they know there’ll always be careless and foolish car owners who will fall for seemingly low rates.
Then, thinking they have come across an incredible offer, people rush to book shipping for their vehicle on time. They pay the agreed price or at least part of it as an advance payment. After that, two scenarios are possible. If it’s a fly-by-night company that does these scams all the time under different names, it’ll simply disappear with your money.
In case you manage to get to a drop-off date and location, fraudulent carriers will suddenly raise their shipping rates with different excuses. That way, especially if you don’t have a contract or didn’t read it thoroughly before signing, they can make you pay the difference in price if you want the service.
This fraud isn’t always hard to recognize. Red flags are when shippers ask you to pay them via payment platforms that don’t track payments, cryptocurrency, or cash. Although legitimate companies can ask for a deposit, don’t pay it until you’re sure of the professionalism and reliability of the shipping company.
Emperor Hostage
This scam is a variation of the previous one. After agreeing to low shipping rates, scammers act like a legitimate company, come pick up your vehicle, and begin shipping to the desired location. Only your car doesn’t get there.
Scammers will most often take your vehicle to a storage facility, the location of which you cannot find out until you pay the “buyout,” i.e., the fee for the scammers’ “services.” They justify this as a storage and redelivery fee. And they most often ask for money transfers that can’t be traced, so don’t be naive.
There’s a chance that a legit car transport company will offer lower rates for its services as part of promotions, as a way to attract customers. Even then, don’t trust everything blindly, but research the advertised carrier first.
Find information about its business, such as physical address and phone number. Read feedbacks and check their BBB rating. Be sure to sign the contract with the transportation company. If they don’t offer it, it’s most likely a scam.
On the source below, read about the importance of good BBB rating for companies:
Phishing
This term refers to the theft and misuse of personal data. Namely, when you hire an untrusted vehicle transportation company in a hurry, they may ask for your e-mail address or phone number, for example, to add you to their subscription list.
And you’ll get e-mails, but they will most often be a scam. It’s a message with a call-to-action button and “amazing offers” that should entice you to click or enter your data, which scammers will use for illegal actions.
For starters, trust the SPAM folder in your inbox that filters your mail and marks possible scams. Never share sensitive data, such as your bank account number or card PIN code, in this way. Scam websites might look legitimate, but if they seem too commercial, without details about physical branches, terminals, and carrier operations, these are usually nothing more than fraud.
Misuse of Reputable Companies’ Reputation
Simply put, scammers claim to be someone else, in most cases, a reputable transportation company from Texas. Most people will believe that without further checking. So, misusing the reputation of trusted carriers, scammers gather clients, advertise low rates, and gather deposits. Then, they just vanish. Luckily, this is one more scam that can be easily detected, as seen here.
Scammers often use different methods, like fake websites and low prices, to fool unsuspecting clients. And you can become a victim if you don’t do thorough research when selecting a car shipping company. That way, you can spot trusted Texas carriers you want to work with.
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