The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, administers commercial regulations governing the interstate transportation of household goods. For information on the Department's role in overseeing the household goods moving industry, please see the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's web site.

DOT's Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigates complaints against household goods carriers alleged to have engaged in egregious and intentional patterns of defrauding consumers. OIG, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies has investigated five other schemes across the country involving egregious cases of fraud against innocent consumers of household goods carriers.

In general, OIG investigates household goods carriers alleged to have engaged in a egregious and intentional pattern of defrauding consumers by:

• Using a fraudulent bill of lading, such as making, altering, copying, publishing, or negotiating a fraudulent bill of lading;
• Deliberately providing a "low-ball" estimate to lure customers and then withhold or threaten to withhold the customers' household goods unless they pay an additional, exorbitant sum; demanding significantly more than the quoted price;
• Failing to observe their rate schedules or tariffs as required by regulation; Knowingly assigning a fraudulent weight to a shipment ("weight bumping");
• Obtaining money or property on false or fraudulent pretenses;
• Interfering with commerce through theft, extortion, or threats or violence;
• Making false statements and/or knowingly making or using false documents; or,
• Violating Federal criminal law by engaging in conspiracy mail and wire fraud or money laundering.

Consumers seeking to file a complaint with FMCSA can call a toll-free number 1-888-368-7238 (DOT-SAFT). Complaints can be filed online at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.htm. Information on consumer rights can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.htm.

FMCSA has a variety of information available to consumers planning a move. Consumers may also want to contact their local Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been registered against the company they are considering using.