An agency typically thought of as regulating grocery store scanners and gasoline pumps is fighting a growing scam affecting more and more Arizona residents every day.

So far this year, the Department of Weights and Measures has saved more than two dozen families nearly $60,000 in overcharges from unscrupulous moving companies. Half of the complaints have been handled in the last month and agency officials fear they are only scratching the surface.

“Our concern is that we’re only getting the tip of the iceberg,” said ADWM spokesman Steve Meissner.

The scam is simple: in an effort to save a few bucks in moving costs, someone moving to Arizona from out of state searches the Internet for a cheaper rate on a moving company. A quote from a moving broker’s Web site is very low and arrangements for pick up and delivery are made online. The company comes to the customer’s house, loads all of the furniture and boxes onto their truck and drops a bombshell: The actual cost to deliver your property is going to be higher than the estimate you received, so we’re going to need $1,000 — in cash — or else we’ll sell your belongings because you refused to pay for services.

Faced with such a proposition, most consumers will find a way to come up with the money, fearing they will lose everything they own.

Because many of the moving companies charge by weight, they are regulated in Arizona by the Department of Weights and Measures in the same way boxes of cereal are. Companies trying to bilk customers fall under their jurisdiction, not that of the police or other law enforcement.

The problem, ADWM Director Art Macias says, is that the scam increasingly is becoming one of his agency’s top priorities.

“It’s one thing to go to a store and be overcharged a couple of bucks,” he said, “but these people come to your door and hold your stuff hostage unless you pay $1,000, $1,200 bucks.”

Why Arizona and why now≠ Mr. Macias and Mr. Meissner believe the summer moving season plays a part in it, but so does Arizona’s rapid growth in recent years.

“Arizona has become ground zero for moving scams for the same reason that Willy Sutton robbed banks — people are moving here,” Mr. Meissner said.

In fact, for many of the people affected by the scam, this is probably one of their first experiences in Arizona.

“To have them arrive in the state with someone trying to take advantage of them is not a good thing and we’re not going to tolerate it,” Mr. Macias said.

Because of the influx of new residents and the moving scams they attract, the 40-employee ADWM is scrambling to keep

pace with complaints, Mr. Macias said. The department is already reallocating resources to allow enforcement officers to work overtime, weekends and holidays — the times most people move.

Director: Investigations ‘Taxing Us’

“We’ve stopped doing other programs to do this,” he said. “It’s taxing us.”

To date, the department has investigated 16 moving companies, including one Prescott Valley company, for refusing to deliver furniture unless an additional fee was paid.

Arizona, in fact, is one of only a handful of states that have any oversight over these moving scams outside of civil litigation.

“This is one of those rare cases where Arizona is out in front on an important issue,” Mr. Meissner said. “We think we’ve been effective so far and we’re looking to be more effective.”

In order to be more effective, Mr. Macias says he hopes to add more enforcement employees in the future, but for now is establishing a task force to deal with the issue. He said invitations have been extended to the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney, state and local law enforcement agencies, the moving industry and victims to participate on the task force.

Educating consumers about the scams and how to avoid them is the best way to protect people, Mr. Macias said. One idea he wants to explore is putting information on how to choose a reputable moving company on relocation packets distributed by local chambers of commerce and conventions bureaus.

He also said he hopes Arizona pursues companion legislation requested in the recently signed federal transportation bill that would allow states’ attorneys general offices to fine moving companies trying to pull scams on customers. —