Similar scam but not quite right
Also known as the “name game”.
Have you ever received one of those emails claiming to be from a famous company asking for personal information? But after a second look, the email it’s coming from isn’t the company at all, but a random Gmail or even Hotmail account.
A sure sign that the sender is not who they say they are.
The not-quite-right scam happens in the transportation industry, where a company establishes a name that is very “similar” to the legitimate one. The customer often doesn’t think about it because of familiarity.
The scammer may even go so far as to create a website to convince you that they are legitimate.
The devil, as they say, is in the details, and scammers try to use familiarity against consumers.
Notice the name. Be sure to ask for DOT numbers and insurance information and verify everything.
Always check that the shipping company is who they say they are.
The classic Bait and Switch
Or, the rise in prices. This scam is one that most people have heard of and is found in a variety of industries. The scam company will quote an extremely low price, hoping to entice you to go with them.
However, once you pay that incredibly low price, hidden fees suddenly start popping up. You have to pay more for every ridiculous and minute thing. The impostor shipping company won’t tell you until they have your equipment in their possession. This almost guarantees that the customer will pay to get their machinery back.
Avoid the classic bait and switch by getting quotes from multiple companies. Surely they will all be close to each other. Some are a little higher, some a little lower.
However, if you find a company with an extremely high or very low price, this is a clear red flag.
As mentioned before, always do your due diligence. Ask for DOT number, references, etc. Make sure you have the correct company name and check online reviews as well.
There are many ways that people can scam unsuspecting customers. Always be diligent when setting up a transport.
Let’s look at some things that can trigger that familiar feeling that something isn’t quite right.
