How to recognize fraudulent shipping companies

Whether you are moving or are planning to ship something, you need to find a reliable company. This is especially relevant in the time when online shopping is on the rise. Whether you are buying from Amazon or some other website, there will probably be some cheaper shipping options. However, there are many companies out there that do not care about delivering your items safely but care only about the money. You need to know how to avoid these companies and this article is just about that. Let’s see how to recognize fraudulent shipping companies and the best ways of finding out if they are reliable.

Checking the company online

This is the first thing you should do when you find a shipping company. An important thing when looking for a shipping or moving services is to check online reviews. Good reviews usually mean that the company is reliable. However, some shipping companies stoop so low and create fake reviews. Making fake accounts and giving out reviews for themselves just to help them reach a higher spot in the search results. So, beware of companies with overly positive reviews. They may turn out to be scammers. They may even create a website that looks good and authentic, with pictures and everything. 

Companies dealing with fake agents

However, do not be frightened by positive reviews. Some international shipping companies in Lebanon actually deserved those with their outstanding service. Websites such as Yelp and BBB are great options when you want to recognize fraudulent shipping companies. All the reviews left there are by real people, and they will have the “BBB seal of approval”. Hire great green cleaning services at castle-keepers.com/. In addition, you can find their number here and call them. Once you do, you should first find out if you are speaking with a company representative or an agent. Some scamming companies are in cahoots with fake agents with the purpose of misleading potential victims. They will talk about the service they need and then sign a contract without even talking to the shipping company. They may lie about the prices of certain services or just not mention them. The shipping companies then know that you are bound by contract to fulfill your end of the bargain.

Another thing that fake agents can do is work with reliable shipping companies up until they see an opportunity to scam someone. They will take your money and disappear, and the money will never reach your shipping company. In order to avoid this, you should always ask for details about the agent and make sure that they are in cahoots with the shipping company. This is why it is better to see if the person you are talking to is a company representative. You may even ask if you can come to their office to talk in person. If they respond positively, they are probably a reliable shipping company. 

How long does the company operate

In this day and age, it is quite easy to begin an online shipping business or drop shipping business. This is why you need to see how long does the company operate in order to avoid being scammed by fraudulent ones. This is a good signifier if the company is reliable or not. Long years of service have come with expertise and knowledge on how to surpass problems and policy changes.

Many satisfied customers are also a good sign that the company is good. However, this does not mean that new companies cannot be reliable. There are some shipping companies in Lebanon which never disappoint their customers. This still does not mean that you should not be wary of new companies. There were many times when shipping companies included hidden costs within their services. Many of them get exposed eventually and have to refund their customers. But it is better to be safe than sorry and get a reliable shipping company.

Fraudulent E-mails

Some companies use this method of scamming people into using their overpriced services. This usually happens during the holiday season when many people are ordering stuff online. The E-mails will look like official E-mails from FedEx, DHL or any other shipping company. They will even use the logos and pictures from the real shipping companies they claim to represent. They can say that your shipment was unsuccessful and request money to resend it. This is especially relevant if you are waiting for a package because many people fall for these. However, there are things that serve as red flags in these E-mails and you should pay close attention to them.

• You should verify the E-mail address and see if they come from the shipping company or from scammers
• E-mails without the tracking number of your package or the order serial number are probably a scam
• Grammar mistakes are the most usual red flag when it comes to scam E-mails
• E-mails containing threats to penalize you if you do not pay them again are probably a scam

If there are no red flags, you should still try to contact the shipping company through their official website. They will probably respond shortly and confirm that the e-mail is from them.

Another red flag people usually do not see

Major red flags are huge discounts! People love saving money on shipping and fail to recognize fraudulent shipping companies. If they offer you a “too good to be true” deal, you can be sure that they are a fraudulent shipping company. They will probably ask you to pay them as soon as possible so they can ship the item to you faster. The best way to make sure that these companies are reliable is to do your homework and research them online. If they are good, they will probably have a BBB seal of approval and a higher grade than 3/5.

We hope that this article was helpful to you when it comes to finding a reliable shipping company. Good luck!