SCAM ALERT
South Florida Moving Fraud Is Surging in 2026: What Every Palm Beach and Broward Resident Must Know Before Booking a Mover
Lee’s Moving Company (USDOT 3034432), a licensed and insured, family-owned mover serving Palm Beach and Broward counties since 1974, is issuing this community alert following an increase in fraudulent moving company reports across South Florida in early 2026.
Operating from our administrative headquarters in Lantana, FL and our regional logistics center in Pompano Beach, FL, our crews have heard directly from homeowners in Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, and Pompano Beach who lost thousands of dollars to unlicensed operators running documented scams. This article names them. Read before you book.
Our family has been loading moving trucks in South Florida since 1974. For over 50 years, our crews have worked the roads between the Palm Beaches and Broward County, so we know this market from the inside. That also means we see firsthand what happens when residents get burned by unlicensed operators.
Moving fraud is not new. But the 2026 version is more sophisticated, more widespread, and targeting the exact communities we serve. Here is what is happening and exactly how to protect yourself.
Why Is Moving Fraud Spiking in South Florida Right Now?
South Florida remains one of the most active relocation markets in the United States. Cities from Boca Raton and Delray Beach down through Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale continue to attract professionals, retirees, and families relocating from the Northeast and Midwest.
That volume of moving activity creates opportunity for predatory operators. Fraudulent companies flood the market during peak seasons, undercutting legitimate movers on price and disappearing after causing damage or demanding inflated final charges.
Florida also has a lower barrier to entry for moving company registration than many other states, which makes it easier for bad actors to set up temporary operations. The result is a market where the gap between a professional mover and a fly-by-night operation is not always obvious at first glance.
What Are the Most Common Moving Scams Targeting Palm Beach and Broward Residents?
These five schemes are the ones our team and local residents have flagged most frequently heading into 2026.
The Bait-and-Switch Estimate
A company provides a low written or verbal estimate to win your booking. On moving day, after every piece of furniture is already loaded onto the truck, the price doubles or triples with new charges for stairs, long carries, extra time, or fuel. You are now at their mercy. The furniture is on the truck.
The Hostage Load
This is the most serious fraud pattern and a federal crime under 49 U.S.C. 13906. The mover loads your belongings, then refuses to deliver them until you pay a dramatically higher amount. Victims have waited days and weeks for their furniture. This scam has been reported across Broward and Palm Beach counties multiple times in 2025 and into 2026. If this happens to you, call the FMCSA at 1-888-368-7238 immediately.
The Fake Broker Operation
These companies run professional-looking websites with local South Florida phone numbers and polished reviews. They take your deposit, then hand your move off to an unknown third-party carrier. You never meet the company you hired, and you have no recourse when problems occur because your contract is with a middleman who no longer has any obligation to you.
The Day Labor Crew Swap
A company posts professional photos on their website and promises experienced crews. On moving day, they send untrained day laborers who have never handled a professional move. We never use day laborers. Our crews are full-time, background-checked moving professionals who are part of the same team Lee’s Moving has built since 1974. Ask any mover directly: who exactly shows up at your door?
The Missing Insurance Trick
Some operators claim to be licensed and insured but cannot produce a certificate of insurance on request. Condo buildings near Pompano Airpark, communities along Mizner Park in Boca Raton, and residential towers along the Intracoastal in Delray Beach all require movers to provide proof of insurance before entering. A mover who cannot produce that document has no business touching your furniture.
How Do You Verify a Moving Company Is Legitimate in Florida Before Moving Day?
Florida consumers have real, free tools to protect themselves. These six steps take less than ten minutes and can save you thousands of dollars.
- Verify the company’s USDOT number through the FMCSA database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Lee’s Moving Company is registered under USDOT 3034432. You can confirm active registration, insurance, and safety record.
- Request a written binding estimate before any crew member touches a single box. Verbal quotes are legally unenforceable and are the primary setup for bait-and-switch pricing.
- For condo and community moves, ask for a certificate of insurance naming your building as additionally insured. Any legitimate mover can produce this within 24 hours.
- Avoid any company that demands a cash deposit exceeding 50% before moving day. Standard practice for reputable movers is minimal upfront payment.
- Search the company name plus “scam” or “complaint” in Google before booking. Also check the Better Business Bureau and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services complaint database.
- Ask directly: “Will your own crews physically perform this move, or will you broker it to another carrier?” A legitimate mover will answer without hesitation.
50 Years of South Florida Moves. Zero Tolerance for Shortcuts.
Lee’s Moving Company has served Palm Beach and Broward County residents since 1974. Every crew member is background-checked and professionally trained. No brokers. No day laborers. No surprise charges.
What Makes Lee’s Moving Company Different From the Operators Described Above?
Lee’s Moving Company was founded in Boca Raton, Florida in 1974. We are not a national van line. We are not a gig-economy app. We are a family-owned institution built on the same South Florida community we have served for over 50 years.
Every move we complete uses our own in-house crews operating out of our two South Florida facilities: our administrative headquarters at 635 Gator Dr, Suite H, Lantana, FL 33462, and our regional logistics center at 2001 NW 15th Ave, Suite 103-A, Pompano Beach, FL 33069.
We are licensed and insured. Our USDOT number is 3034432. We provide written estimates. Our crews carry full commercial insurance and can provide certificates of insurance for any building that requires them, including high-rises near Pompano Airpark, gated communities in Boca Raton off Mizner Park, and condominium towers along the Intracoastal in Delray Beach.
When you book with Lee’s, the same crew that answers your consultation call is the crew that shows up at your door. No brokers. No day laborers. No strangers. That is a promise backed by 50 years of reputation in this community.
Frequently Asked Questions: Moving Scams in South Florida
What should I do if a moving company holds my belongings hostage?
Call local police immediately and file a report. Contact the FMCSA Consumer Complaint Hotline at 1-888-368-7238. Document all communications with the company in writing, including any text messages and verbal conversations. Do not pay the inflated amount without consulting legal guidance, as you may have federal protections under the Carmack Amendment.
Is it legal for a moving company to increase the price after loading the truck?
Under federal law, if you have a binding estimate, the mover cannot charge more than the agreed amount. A non-binding estimate can result in higher charges, but federal regulations cap how much extra can be required before delivery. Any mover who refuses to deliver your goods until you pay a dramatically higher amount is committing a federal crime.
How can I check if a moving company is licensed in Florida?
Visit safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and enter the company’s USDOT number. The database shows their registration status, active insurance coverage, and full safety record. Lee’s Moving Company is registered under USDOT 3034432 and operates fully licensed and insured across Palm Beach and Broward counties.
What is the biggest red flag when hiring a moving company in South Florida?
The clearest red flag is a mover who cannot or will not provide a written, itemized estimate before moving day. Additional warning signs include an unusually low quote, a large upfront cash deposit, and a refusal to confirm whether their own crews will perform the move or use third-party carriers.
Does Lee’s Moving Company serve both Palm Beach and Broward counties?
Yes. Lee’s Moving Company operates two South Florida facilities: our administrative headquarters at 635 Gator Dr, Suite H, Lantana, FL 33462 serving Palm Beach County, and our regional logistics center at 2001 NW 15th Ave, Suite 103-A, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 serving Broward County. Both locations have been serving their communities under the same family ownership since 1974.
Book a Mover You Can Actually Verify. Family-Owned in South Florida Since 1974.
USDOT 3034432 | Licensed and Insured | No Day Laborers | No Brokers | Written Estimates | Two South Florida Locations