Cargo theft is surging, and not just the kind with bolt cutters and balaclavas. Today’s biggest threat? Strategic theft – fraud committed without any kind of force or weaponry.
“I think we’re at an all-time high. I haven’t seen cargo theft at this level,”
– Scott Cornell, the national practice transportation lead at Travelers, told CNBC.
What Is Strategic Theft?
Strategic theft happens when criminals impersonate legitimate carriers. They book your freight, then disappear with it. It’s easier than you think – and shockingly common.
Here’s how it plays out:
Fake carriers: A company with a real-looking MC number accepts the job, but the truck is fake or dispatched to an unlicensed driver.
Email impersonation: dispatch@abctrucking.com becomes dispatch1abctrucking@gmail.com. One character off, and you’re duped.
Carrier impersonation: A scammer poses as the broker to a real carrier, then redirects the load mid-route to a warehouse they control.
MC number “buyouts”: Fraudsters buy defunct MC numbers just to use the legitimacy.
Database hacks: Some even alter FMCSA records to change listed phone numbers or emails.
In one case we saw firsthand, a scammer duplicated a real email address – swapping “66” for “6” – and nearly got away with it.
There’s even a rising trend of ransom theft, where a scammer hijacks the load, then demands payment to return it.
Theft Hotspots
The most targeted areas are:
Southern California
The Tri-State area
Chicago & Kentucky rail yards
Texas & Florida
Are Authorities Responding?
The FMCSA is trying:
Requiring face ID for applicants
Banning PO boxes as business addresses
Enforcing login.gov for account changes
Southern California’s Highway Patrol has made arrests, but enforcement is still far behind.
Our recommendation is don’t rely on the authorities. Best to do everything you can to stay protected and prevent it happening to you in the first place.
How to Protect Your Freight
Verify driver name, trailer number, MC, and phone – put it all on the BOL
Have your warehouse confirm those details at pickup. Don’t load a mismatched truck.
Scan and store driver IDs for future records
Use vetted carriers only – avoid unverified load boards. A good freight forwarder has truckers that they trust.
Track trucks via ELD GPS, where possible
Don’t accept booking changes that come from unrecognized phone numbers or email addresses – Confirm changes via multiple contacts (email + phone).
Ask your broker how they prevent impersonation – and tell carriers you’re checking
Often, just saying you have security procedures is enough to scare off scammers.
How Simple Forwarding Keeps You Protected
Here’s what we do before a truck ever touches your cargo:
Cross-check carrier inspection data and VINs
Verify insurance coverage and fleet size
Investigate past broker authority activity or double brokering
Monitor IP locations and flag overlap with known fraud patterns
Ensure all driver, trailer, and MC data is on file – —and matches at pickup
Work with a trusted network of carriers, avoiding random load boards
Cargo theft has evolved, but with the right checks, it’s preventable. We take it seriously – so your shipments stay secure.
