Palm Springs Senior Loses Thousands in South Florida Moving Scam

A Palm Springs woman is speaking out after falling victim to a moving scam that cost her thousands of dollars and left her belongings damaged. It’s a growing scheme across South Florida, where unlicensed movers lure customers with low quotes and then demand far more once they have possession of their property.

Rose Marie Ditolla told WPBF 25 Investigates that she hired a Fort Lauderdale-based company she found on Facebook to move her belongings less than a mile away. The written estimate was $427 — but on moving day, the crew refused to unload unless she paid over $4,000.

“‘Ma’am, you owe us $4,400,’” Ditolla recalled. “I was devastated. I’m still crying about it.”

The company allegedly threatened to drive her furniture back to Fort Lauderdale and charge $250 a day in storage fees if she didn’t pay. After negotiating, Ditolla said the movers agreed to take $2,200 in cash. She sent her son to the bank, using nearly all of her life savings to meet their demands.

When the movers finally unloaded, Ditolla said they dumped her belongings in piles, broke furniture, and left a mess behind. After searching online, she found numerous complaints about the company — and conflicting addresses that made it difficult to trace.

“Unfortunately, we see a lot of moving scams, especially in this area,” said Cinthya Lavin with the Better Business Bureau. “They disappear. They know how to avoid accountability and how to take your money.”

WPBF’s Terri Parker found disconnected numbers and multiple fake business listings linked to the same operation. Investigators are still working to identify those responsible.

Consumer experts urge residents to verify all mover credentials before booking. Legitimate moving companies should have a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services registration for in-state jobs, or a USDOT and MC number for interstate moves. Customers are also advised to avoid cash payments and to be wary of unusually low quotes or threats of daily storage fees.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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