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How to spot an MC scam

By TruckBiz Team · Last reviewed: October 6, 2026

FMCSA said on March 19, 2026: “DO NOT Sell, Purchase, or Lease a USDOT or MC Number.”

Read the FMCSA bulletin →

8 red flags

  1. 1. They sell you a number, not a company.

    An ad offers an MC or USDOT number on its own. FMCSA says a USDOT number “may not be sold, transferred, rented, or leased.”

  2. 2. They offer to rent or lease you their MC.

    FMCSA warns against leasing a USDOT or MC number. Renting an MC is not a transfer.

  3. 3. A sole proprietor says they’ll “sell” you their authority.

    FMCSA says a sole proprietor’s USDOT number never passes to a buyer. Ask whether the seller is an LLC or a corporation.

  4. 4. They want money outside escrow.

    Escrow.com says a request to wire money “directly to an individual” should set off alarm bells.

  5. 5. They pick the escrow site, or send you a link to it.

    Escrow.com says to be wary when someone insists on the escrow site that must be used, and that a look-alike site is likely fake.

  6. 6. The phone number doesn’t match SAFER.

    FMCSA tells you to verify phone numbers in SAFER.

  7. 7. They show you an insurance certificate, but FMCSA shows no filing.

    FMCSA warns that even insurance certificates can be fraudulent. The insurer’s filing shows on the FMCSA record.

  8. 8. “Act today” and “guaranteed income.”

    The FTC lists pressure to act fast and promises of guaranteed income as scam signs.

Check a seller in 5 minutes

  1. 1. Open SAFER yourself.

    Type safer.fmcsa.dot.gov into your browser. Search by USDOT or MC number. Don’t trust the top search result for a company. FMCSA warns some may be fake profiles.

  2. 2. Read the Company Snapshot.

    Look at USDOT Status, Operating Authority Status, the MCS-150 form date, inspections and crashes. Make sure the legal name matches the company you are being offered.

  3. 3. Check licensing and insurance.

    Open FMCSA’s Licensing & Insurance (L&I) search for the authority and insurance history. The insurer files proof of coverage with FMCSA, so check the filing on the FMCSA record, not just a paper certificate.

  4. 4. Match the phone.

    Call the number on the SAFER record, not the one in the ad.

  5. 5. Check the state business record.

    Confirm that the LLC or corporation is active in its state’s business-entity search.

If anything doesn’t match, stop. FMCSA’s fraud page tells you to stop the transaction when you see red flags.

The fake-escrow scam

  • How it works.

    A “seller” sends you to a site that looks like Escrow.com, and the money disappears. Escrow.com warns that a look-alike site is likely a fake.

  • Type escrow.com yourself.

    Escrow.com tells you to go to its site in your browser, not through a link.

  • Pay only inside your own transaction.

    Pay only into the account shown inside your own Escrow.com transaction, after you log in yourself.

  • Never wire directly to a person.

    That is the alarm bell in Escrow.com’s own warning.

  • Check the sender.

    Escrow.com warns about look-alike sender addresses. Use the phone number on the real site, not the e-mail.

  • Pushed to a fake site? Walk away.

    Escrow.com’s advice: walk away from the deal.

Where to report

General information only, as of the “Last reviewed” date — not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules change; check the official source we link. TruckBiz is a marketplace, not a law firm, insurance agency or escrow company. TruckBiz is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escrow.com, FMCSA or the U.S. DOT. Talk to your own lawyer, accountant and insurance agent about your deal.

By TruckBiz Team · Last reviewed: October 6, 2026

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