Free app uses AI to help Florida residents avoid moving scams and surprise price hikes
By Terri Parker
Click here for updates on this story
FLORIDA (WPBF) — Florida is a hotspot for moving scams, and the playbook is familiar: a low quote, a signed contract packed with fine print, and then a sudden demand for thousands more when your belongings are already on the truck.
Palm Springs resident Rose Marie DiTolla said she was quoted $400 to move from one apartment to another in the same complex. But she says on moving day, the crew refused to unload unless she paid thousands more.
“Ma’am, you owe us $4,400,” DiTolla said. “I was devastated. I’m still crying about it.”
It is a tactic reported by victims across Florida, and even when people call police, they are often told it is a civil dispute tied to what was signed in the contract.
“If you look at these contracts that they sign, it’s got the fine print and they go, well, if anything changes, we can switch the price and we’ll give you a new estimate,” said Bill Mulholland of ARC Relocation.
Mulholland’s company has helped launch a free app called Agoyu, designed to make it harder for scam movers to trap people after the fact.
Users record video of their rooms and items using their phone, enter the distance of the move, and the app uses AI to generate an estimate of what a reputable mover should charge. The goal: fewer “surprise” add-ons when a mover claims they did not know about a wall unit, extra stairs, or a long walk from the truck.
Mulholland says the app also points consumers to movers that have already been vetted, with information intended to help people check legitimacy before booking.
“You can click on their US Department of Transportation license. You can see how many accidents they’ve been in, how many complaints they’ve had filed, the last time their equipment’s been inspected,” Mulholland said.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Experts say scammers often dodge consequences by shutting down and reopening under a new name once complaints pile up, making prevention critical.
“And what these bad guys do is once enough complaints have been filed, they shut down that company and they open up a new one,” Mulholland said.
Florida passed tougher moving scam laws last year, and the Florida Attorney General has issued warnings. Federal authorities have also investigated certain moving fraud rings, and in at least one case, operators have received multi-year prison sentences.
If you believe you have been scammed, here is a list of agencies to contact and steps to document your complaint.
HELP: Federal Agencies
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) — They accept complaints about moving scams (especially interstate moves). National Consumer Complaint Database: submit online or call 1-888-368-7238 (8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET weekdays). FMCSA+1
• U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) — You can report fraud or hostage-load situations. Hotline: 1-800-424-9071 Email: hotline@oig.dot.gov Mail: DOT OIG, 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20590. FMCSA+1
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — The nation’s consumer protection agency takes fraud reports, including moving scams. File a complaint online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Federal Trade Commission
Florida State & Local Options
• Florida Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Division — Handles statewide fraud complaints. Call 1-866-9NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) or file online at MyFloridaLegal.com. My Florida Legal
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) — The state’s consumer complaint clearinghouse; regulates intrastate movers. Call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or file a complaint online via the FDACS consumer services page. Florida Department of Agriculture
• County Consumer Affairs Offices — In South Florida counties, local consumer protection divisions can help mediate or refer complaints. For example: • Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs – 800-435-7352 (state hotline also covers this). Palm Beach County • Broward County Consumer Protection – Phone complaints at 954-765-1700. Broward County • Miami-Dade Consumer Protection Division – 786-469-2333 for mediation and complaints. Miami-Dade County
Other Resources
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) — Not a government agency, but you can file a complaint that goes directly to the moving company and is publicly tracked. File at BBB.org/file-a-complaint. American Bar Association
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.