Saudi Mover Scam Alert!
Law enforcement authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have launched an investigation into a fake transport company in Al Khobar after complaints from expatriates and citizens claiming they had been scammed.
The company had agreed to ship furniture and luggage to various destinations in and around the region, but clients soon suspected foul play after discovering their goods had gone missing. Several clients made futile attempts to contact company representatives but without any success and have subsequently filed a police report.
The incident highlights the vulnerability of unsuspecting customers to scam artists. In some cases, people are drawn to fictitious companies masquerading as freight movers with very attractive prices for their services. These companies go as far as setting up cloned websites and advertising in daily newspapers to lure customers.
Turki Al-Sibei, a Saudi citizen, claims he signed a contract with the company to transport his furniture from Dammam to Taif, the location of his new work place. Upon arriving to Taif, he tried to contact the company to determine the exact date his furniture would arrive, but was unable to get a reply. He tried calling the company’s main office and still there was no response. He has now launched legal proceedings against the company.
Some victims like Hassan Jizah have been swindled out of a fairly large amount of money. Jizah, a Syrian national, agreed to have his furniture worth SR60,000 ($15,998) shipped by the transport company to Syria within a week after paying a deposit of SR5000. He is yet to receive delivery of his furniture.
To avoid falling prey to scam artists, expatriates are advised to thoroughly research moving companies. They should ensure that the company they choose to move their goods with is licensed and registered. Do not be deceived by very low quotes as it can sometimes end up costing you more. Lastly, try as much as possible, to get at least three estimates from various moving companies.
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