A Craven County moving job ended with handcuffs instead of a tip after a crew allegedly refused to unload a woman's furniture unless she handed over an extra $5,200, investigators said. Instead of paying, the woman called deputies, who arrested a man at her home on Thursday. Officials later put the value of her belongings at about $20,000.
As reported by The Charlotte Observer, the Craven County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 70-year-old Moshe Yzhari of Miami. According to a sheriff's news release cited by the paper, deputies took Yzhari into custody at the residence while investigators were on scene, and he has been linked to a similar moving "scam" reported in Raleigh the previous day. Court records reviewed by the outlet list felony counts including extortion, conspiracy to obtain property by false pretense, larceny and exploitation of an elderly or disabled person. His bond was set at $250,000, and jail records show he has been released.
How the 'hostage load' scam works
Federal regulators say this playbook - loading a customer's household goods, then demanding an inflated fee to hand them back - is a well-known moving scam. The FMCSA Operation Protect Your Move enforcement initiative has targeted carriers and brokers accused of "hostage load" practices, and public business filings on BusinessProfiles.com list a Quick Trip Moving Inc. registration tied to Moshe Yzhari in Florida, highlighting how these operations can cross state lines.
What to do if your movers demand more money
If a mover suddenly demands extra cash, authorities advise against paying on the spot and recommend contacting local law enforcement instead. The DOT Office of Inspector General moving-fraud guidance includes a hotline and step-by-step reporting instructions, and the FBI has urged victims to preserve contracts, photograph packed items and use traceable payment methods rather than cash. Officials also say to keep all paperwork and note truck or USDOT numbers to help investigators and regulators document the case.
Legal note
With felony counts already listed in court records, the case will move through Craven County courts and could extend into other jurisdictions if prosecutors pursue the reported incident in Raleigh or any alleged interstate conduct. Past enforcement sweeps against hostage-load schemes show that victims may seek criminal or civil remedies, and that federal agencies sometimes get involved when moves cross state lines.
