Every month, the Consumer Affairs Department of the Government of India receives hundreds of complaints against unregistered packers and movers — bait-and-switch quotes that double on move day, goods held hostage at the destination until "extra charges" are paid, and in the worst cases, complete disappearance with the truck. This guide lists the 10 red flags that almost always precede a moving scam, and the 5-minute verification process that filters real movers from fake ones.
Red flag 1: Quote given without a physical survey
For any move larger than a 1 BHK, a representative should visit your home to take inventory. A quote based purely on a phone description or WhatsApp photos is almost always 30-50% lower than the true price — and on move day, the difference appears as "additional charges" the customer is forced to pay.
Red flag 2: 50%+ payment demanded upfront
Industry-standard practice is 25% advance to confirm the booking, with the balance payable when the truck reaches your destination. Any company demanding 50%, 75% or 100% upfront is operating outside industry norms. The most common scam pattern: take 100% upfront, never arrive on move day, dispute the refund.
Red flag 3: No GST number on the quote
Every legitimate Indian mover must be GST-registered and the 15-digit GSTIN must appear on the quote and the invoice. Verify it on the government GST portal (gst.gov.in) before signing anything. "We don't charge GST so you save 18%" is the marketing language of an illegal operator with no recourse if anything goes wrong.
Red flag 4: Address is residential, virtual or "office under renovation"
Legitimate movers have a registered office at the listed address — typically with a signboard, a phone, and at least one in-person employee. If you visit the listed address and find a residential apartment or a "we'll meet you outside" excuse, walk away. For inter-state moves especially, the physical office is your only leverage if something goes wrong.
Red flag 5: All testimonials on the website, none on Google
Beware of movers whose website is full of 5-star testimonials but whose Google Business Profile has 5 reviews or doesn't exist at all. Website testimonials are unverifiable. Real Google reviews are tied to real accounts and cannot be deleted by the business. Check the GBP. Read the negative reviews carefully — the business's response (or lack of) tells you exactly how they treat disputes.
Red flag 6: No written contract
A legitimate move has a written contract listing: pickup address, drop address, move date, inventory list, scope of services, labour count, packing materials, transport details, payment schedule, insurance details and dispute-resolution method. Verbal commitments are worthless — if the mover refuses to put it in writing, that's the entire warning sign you need.
Red flag 7: "Insurance" with no insurer name
Ask the mover which IRDAI-licensed insurance company underwrites their transit policies (legitimate answers include Bajaj Allianz, ICICI Lombard, HDFC ERGO, New India Assurance, etc.) and ask to see a sample policy document. "We'll handle everything if anything goes wrong" is not insurance — it's a verbal hope with zero financial backing.
Red flag 8: Truck arrives smaller than promised
A classic scam: book a 17-foot Eicher container, send a 14-foot Tata 407 on move day. Half the inventory goes in the first trip, then the driver "needs extra fuel charges" for the second trip. If the truck is not the size promised in writing, refuse to load and call the company's office — make the call in front of the crew so they know you are escalating.
Red flag 9: "Add-on" charges on move day
Common surprise charges: floor-wise loading, lift unavailability, additional packing material, octroi at destination, fuel surcharge, GST "if you want a bill", parking charges, weekend charges. None of these should be added on move day if they were not disclosed in the written quote. Reject every surprise charge and call the head office.
Red flag 10: Pressure to pay before the truck unloads
The most dangerous scam pattern: the truck reaches the destination, the driver refuses to unload until the full balance is paid in cash, then claims "extra charges" that weren't in the quote. The legitimate practice is: balance is paid AFTER unloading and verifying inventory, not before. Insist on this term in the written contract.
The 5-minute verification protocol
- Verify the GSTIN on gst.gov.in
- Search the company name + "scam" or "fraud" on Google — read the first 10 results
- Check the Google Business Profile — minimum 50 reviews, 4.5+ rating, business has responded to negative reviews
- Call the listed phone number — does a person answer professionally, or does it go to voicemail / disconnected?
- Ask for a sample transit-insurance policy document — verify the insurer's name on IRDAI's website
- Get a written quote with full scope, GST, insurance and payment terms before paying any advance
- Pay the 25% advance only via bank transfer, UPI or cheque — never cash, never to a personal account, only to the company's GSTIN-linked account
If something goes wrong — what to do
- Document everything immediately — photographs, video of damaged goods, the inventory list, the contract
- Email the mover with a formal damage claim within 48 hours, attaching all evidence
- If unresponsive, file a complaint at consumerhelpline.gov.in (National Consumer Helpline)
- For high-value disputes, file at the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
- For criminal acts (theft, fraud), file an FIR at the local police station with all evidence
- Post a factual, evidence-backed review on Google — this is the most powerful deterrent for future customers
The 30-60 minutes you spend vetting a moving company is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy. Cheap quotes and high-pressure sales tactics are nearly always the front-end of a scam. A genuinely good mover will welcome your verification questions — the bad ones will pressure you to "book now before the price goes up."