Fraudulent transporters operating as fake car shifting service in Kolkata providers cost customers thousands of rupees every year through advance payment scams, vehicle damage fraud, and complete disappearances after collecting deposits. These scams are sophisticated, well-organized, and specifically designed to exploit first-time customers who do not know what warning signs to look for. Understanding how these frauds work and recognizing red flags before you commit to any car shifting service is the only reliable protection against becoming the next victim in an industry where scammers deliberately target inexperienced customers.How Advance Payment Scams Work in Car Shifting Service
The most damaging scam involves fraudulent car shifting service in Kolkata operators collecting large advance payments and then completely disappearing. These scammers invest heavily in professional websites, fake customer testimonials, and confident sales representatives who answer all questions smoothly to build false credibility. Once they receive your deposit — typically 50 to 100 percent of the quoted price — they become unreachable, leaving you with no vehicle pickup, no refund, and no legal recourse because the company was never registered in the first place. A legitimate car shifting service never demands full payment upfront and always provides verifiable credentials before accepting any money. Any car shifting service in Kolkata insisting on complete advance payment through cash or non-traceable methods is almost certainly operating a fraud designed to steal your money. Red flags indicating advance payment fraud in car shifting service bookings:- Full payment demanded upfront before any documentation or service is provided
- Cash payment preference or requests for bank transfers to personal accounts
- Pressure tactics rushing you to pay immediately before competitors are contacted
- No written contract offered leaving you with no documentation of the transaction
- Unverifiable business address that does not exist at the claimed location
Vehicle Hostage Scams with Car Shifting Service in Kolkata
Another common scam involves car shifting service in Kolkata operators who quote low prices, collect your vehicle, and then refuse delivery until you pay substantial additional amounts never mentioned originally. Once your car is loaded and in transit, these fraudulent transporters demand extra charges for packaging, insurance, tolls, or fabricated damages that supposedly occurred during loading. A professional car shifting service provides complete itemized pricing upfront with no surprise additions at delivery. Scammers deliberately structure quotes to appear competitive, knowing they can extort additional payments once customers have no leverage because their vehicle is already in the transporter’s possession with a car shifting service in Kolkata holding it hostage. These operators calculate that most customers will pay rather than abandon their vehicle entirely. Warning signs of vehicle hostage scams:- Suspiciously low initial quotes far below market rates for similar services
- Vague pricing structure with many costs marked as “to be determined later”
- Refusal to provide itemized quotes in writing before vehicle pickup
- No registered business presence that can be independently verified or located
- Poor communication after vehicle pickup with unreachable phone numbers
