Motorcoach companies across the U.S. are being warned by other operators, as well as the federal government, about possible scams and shady business dealings prevalent in the industry.

Red flags should go up if an operator:

Receives a letter claiming to be sent from the USDOT asking you to fax a financial release form to the department.

Receives a call or other communication from a tour company/bus broker operating under the name Marquico & Associates, Washington Charters and Tours, Pacific Northwest Charters and Tours, San Francisco Charters and Tours, Minnesota Bus Charters, or variations of these names.

Is contacted by a youth drum and bugle corps for a charter.

Roland Atwood of Red River Trails in Moorhead, Minn., reports receiving two of the supposed USDOT letters. After checking the Department of Transportation Website, however, Atwood discovered the letters are both fraudulent and not new.

The USDOT says "there has been another round of fraudulent letters issued to U.S. Department of Transportation contractors and potential contractors purporting to be issued by DOT.

"These fraudulent letters request that current or potential contractors register by submitting their company's financial information on a release form entitled, 'Authorization to release financial information.' Please be aware that DOT does not require any financial information to be submitted in order to be eligible for procurement."

The first of these letters surfaced more than two years ago and they purport to be from and signed by a USDOT "senior procurement officer."

"Please DO NOT complete the release form which is attached to the letter and DO NOT release any information to the facsimile number cited in the letter," warns the USDOT.

The point of contact for the fraudulent letters is the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General Hotline, (800) 424-9071.

A number of operators attending UMA Motorcoach Expo 2008 reported bad experiences with an outfit called Marquico & Associates of San Francisco that reportedly operates under a number of different names and uses attractively designed Websites to give it credibility. It also uses a variety of telephone numbers, both 800 and conventional, that appear to ring to the same office.

Among the company's shoddy practices is to guarantee coaches with a credit card that ultimately is declined.

"Google" the company name before doing business with it and read the comments.

Other operators at Expo reported being stiffed by youth drum and bugle corps. One operator reported losing upwards of $20,000.

The prevailing sentiment boiled down to this: If a drum and bugle corps wants to charter a coach, demand cash up front.