A family in Douglas County, Georgia, thought they were all set for the move. They hired movers to ship their possessions, some with profound sentimental value. The men showed up on time. Everything seemed totally normal. They loaded up their empty U-Haul truck with furniture and boxes. The family went to their new home and waited. But the movers never came.
When the homeowners reported the incident, Atlanta police discovered the truck in a neighborhood just a few hours later. It was too late, the scammers had won. The truck was empty. The family lost an estimated $75,000 worth of belongings. Now they are warning others to be cautious of hiring movers from Craigslist that aren't verified. The homeowner, who has chosen to remain anonymous is more concerned with records and personal items than the expensive goods. Police believe they may have recovered a box containing the personal documents.
“We built a life here, memories. We have items that are irreplaceable on that truck,” she told ABC. “If I don’t get anything back, I want that box, because it has all of our social security, birth certificates in it. It has death records from my mom and son. Of course, I had iPads and phones that were gone, but all the birth certificates, and all the records that I really needed were in that box, including my Bible, thank God.”
"A reputable mover will want to make sure you get all the answers you need. Read all documents carefully, make sure you get a copy of everything you sign, and never sign any blank forms. Keep all personal papers, including birth certificates, with you, as well as your phone," said Scott Michael, president and CEO of the American Moving & Storage Association.
