How to stay safe and avoid container scams

More and more people worldwide are falling victim to container scams, including businesses and individuals in the UK. Buyers think they’re saving money on storage solutions, only to find out all they’re doing is paying for something they’ll never receive.

Our top tips for avoiding container scams:

• If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is
• Real container providers don’t do business over text
• Legitimate container businesses have company emails
• Online reviews can help validate legitimacy
• Random stock images = scam
• Being asked to pay in advance is a telltale sign
• Think twice if they claim that bank details are incorrect
• Most container providers don’t take payment online

The storage container industry has become increasingly attractive to scammers due to often high container prices propelled by the low supply and high demand for storage solutions. AI is making these scams all the more convincing and enabling fraudsters to quickly and easily create fake websites and advertisements. Scammers simply offer low prices and wait for customers to come— even posing as big names, like TITAN, to win trust.

At TITAN, we take these fraudsters and their attempts to impersonate us very seriously. So, let’s run over some of the steps you can take to ensure your storage provider and solutions are 100% legitimate.

8 TOP TIPS FOR AVOIDING CONTAINER SCAMS

We’ve identified and reported our fair share of container scams. These are the eight tips you should keep in mind to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.

• If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is

Generally speaking, container prices vary very little between real companies. The number one tactic for these types of scammers is to massively undercut real companies on price — making you think you’re getting the deal of the century.

Layland Barker, TITAN Founder, urges you to get in touch with reputable storage solutions when checking pricing:

If you’re quoted a price that just seems too good to be true, it most likely is. Check again and do some digging as to whether the “company” you’re corresponding with is a real business.

• Real storage providers don’t do business over text

Sure, some storage providers, TITAN included, are happy to answer questions over text or via social media — but we never make a sale or take payment via these mediums. Nor does any other legitimate storage supplier.

If you’re being pushed to send payment over the phone or via socials, there could be a fraudster on the other end of the line.

• Legitimate storage businesses have company emails

When you work with real businesses, especially those in an industry like ours, almost everyone you connect with will have a company email. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be communicating with anyone with a Gmail or other generic email.

For example, TITAN will never use an email that isn’t @tcmail.eu, @titancontainers.com.au, @titancontainers.com, @titancontainers.co.uk, @titancontainers.co.nz.

Be wary of any email that comes from a generic address.

• Online reviews can help validate legitimacy

Real businesses work with real customers who leave real reviews. A business that has no online reviews likely isn’t a business you want to work with. Make sure to check out reviews on sites like Google and Trustpilot, and consider whether they seem legitimate.

Fake reviews will typically all be left around the same time (the space of one or two weeks, for example), and often use similar language. You can also check the reviewer’s profile to see if they’ve left other reviews on other companies. Fraudsters typically won’t, as they’ve created the account for the sole purpose of leaving a review for their fake business.

Here’s a review we received. It’s specific, human, and left by someone who’s reviewed many businesses over the years:

• Random stock images = scam

When you’ve got branded, secure storage solutions, you’re happy to flaunt them. If you visit a website and see stock images of storage solutions, you’re likely dealing with a fraudster.

Our TITAN storage containers have our name on them, and we exclusively use branded containers in all our marketing and website spots. If your prospective storage solution only provides stock images on their website, you might want to think again and dig a little deeper.

• Being asked to pay in advance is a telltale sign

If you’re working with a company that insists you pay everything upfront, you could be working with a scammer. In fact, you most likely are. After all, waiting for you to receive the goods they never shipped exposes their scam.

Demanding upfront payment is a key way they can scam you. Avoid parting with any cash until you’re 100% certain that you’re dealing with a legitimate storage solution provider.

• Think twice if they claim that bank details are incorrect

A common trick these fraudsters use is to give incorrect bank details. These bank details will appear legit, but don’t actually exist.

When you send money to these accounts, it will bounce and be returned to yours. The scammers will then provide some sort of explanation, and request that you send payment to another account. If you follow these instructions, you can kiss goodbye to your cash.

See, the first account appears legitimate. It might include a name you recognise (like TITAN!) or a name you believe, and then incorrect bank details. It lulls you into a false sense of security, which scammers then take advantage of and push you to send payment to a less-legitimate-looking account.

• Storage providers don’t typically take payment online

Typically, most storage providers won’t take payment online. You’ll more than likely pay on arrival when dealing with real storage solution providers.

At TITAN, we ask prospective customers to get in touch with us directly. Customers aren’t able to make bookings via an online portal, only submit a request for a quote. We then work with customers directly to ensure they get the exact storage solution they need.

In the rare instance that you are asked to send payment via an online payment system, make sure you’re 100% convinced that you’re dealing with a real business.

WHAT ARE TITAN CONTAINER DOING TO PREVENT FRAUDSTERS?

After over 30 years in business, we’ve dealt with our fair share of fraudsters. In many cases, scammers will use the TITAN Containers name, photos, and trademarks in their advertisements to make their fraudulent operations seem legitimate. They do this not only with TITAN, but also to other reputable container companies.

To stop these fraudsters from scamming people out of their hard-earned cash, we’ve engaged service providers to find and take down fake websites using TITAN intellectual properties. They’ve already removed many sites, all of which we’ve reported to local authorities.

It’s a challenging task, as these fraudsters are extremely fast. As soon as we remove one website, another pops up. Recently, they’ve avoided infringing TITAN’s intellectual properties, meaning we’re unable to have the websites taken down by our service provider.

We’re doing everything we can to keep storage container customers safe from scams, including sharing these tips to help you avoid falling victim to fraud.

TITAN CONTAINERS: SAFE, SECURE STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Scammers work hard, but we work harder. We remain committed to finding and taking down scammers and sites claiming to offer storage solutions.

We’ve been providing high-quality storage solutions to customers worldwide since 1987. We’re a name that the UK can trust, even if fraudsters are trying to take advantage of it.

If you’re ever in doubt about who you’re talking to about your UK-based storage solutions, don’t hesitate to call us directly to check whether the person you’re emailing is 100% legit.

We’ve been successfully shutting down scammers so far, and we’re remaining vigilant to ensure TITAN continues to be a name you can trust.