The Rise of Freight Fraud: Why Brokers and Carriers Must Stay Vigilant

Freight fraud is surging. According to the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), incidents of cargo theft and strategic fraud rose by 65 percent between September 2024 and February 2025. Nearly 22 percent of brokers reported losses exceeding $200,000, and double-brokering remains the most common scam, affecting 97 percent of truckload brokers.

Criminal tactics have become increasingly sophisticated. Fraudsters are now impersonating carriers, hacking into federal databases, and even operating call centers to run "ghost hauls" that appear legitimate until the freight vanishes.

Real-World Cases Every Freight Professional Should Know

1. Fake Shipper, Fake Carrier, Real Broker In this scam, a fraudster poses as both the shipper and the carrier. A real broker is brought in to coordinate the load, but the fraudulent carrier (really the same scammer) picks it up. The scammer then collects the payment and leaves the real carrier unpaid. Brokers are often left in the middle, holding the liability.

2. Identity Hijack Leads to Massive Cargo Theft In 2024, cargo theft incidents totaled 3,798, a 26 percent increase year-over-year. In one major case, scammers used hacked FMCSA data to impersonate a legitimate carrier and steal over $1 million worth of smart toys from a toy manufacturer. The loads were picked up and never delivered.

3. Ransom Load Scam A shipment of yogurt was picked up by a criminal using a stolen motor carrier number. The scammer contacted the shipper and demanded a $40,000 ransom to release the freight. According to Dedicated Carriers CEO Rob Hoffman, the victim was left feeling helpless due to limited enforcement support and the fast-moving nature of the scam.

The Most Common Freight Fraud Schemes

Scheme	Description	Warning Signs
Double-Brokering	Load is re-brokered without permission, and original carrier is unpaid	Rates well above market, unclear chain of custody, mismatched contact details
Carrier Identity Theft	Scammer uses legitimate MC numbers to book and steal loads	Free email domains, unfamiliar voice contacts, urgent or irregular instructions
Load Board Impersonation	Fake loads are posted to extract data or payments from carriers	Suspicious rates, new brokers with no track record, fake addresses
Driver-in-Need Scams	Posing as a stranded driver to solicit fuel advances	Sudden calls about truck breakdowns, pressure to wire money
Fake Factoring	Fraudulent companies divert carrier payments	New factoring instructions without verification, untraceable contact info

What Brokers and Carriers Can Do

1. Always Vet Your Partners Check all carrier and broker credentials through FMCSA, SAFER, and verified vetting tools. Avoid doing business with those using generic email domains or recently activated MC numbers.

2. Watch for Deals That Look Too Good If a rate seems unusually high or the load falls into your lap without negotiation, be cautious. Fraudsters use pricing as bait.

3. Confirm Load and Route Details Call the shipper directly. Make sure pickup numbers, BOLs, and contact information match. Do not rely solely on documents forwarded through email.

4. Train Your Team Make sure dispatchers, load planners, and accounting staff know how to spot fake profiles, spoofed emails, and phishing attempts on load boards.

5. Use a Reliable Vetting Platform Manual checks are no longer enough. Use tools like Highway or MyCarrierPortal to automatically monitor carrier credentials, insurance, and identity in real time. These platforms can help prevent fraud before a load is even assigned.

6. Report Fraud Quickly Submit fraud reports to the FMCSA, TIA Watchdog, DAT, and other industry platforms. Time is critical for investigation and prevention.

Why Technology-Backed Vetting is No Longer Optional

The freight industry runs on speed and trust. Scammers exploit both. Most scams do not rely on hacking networks; they rely on exploiting gaps in vetting and communication. That is why brokers and carriers alike must use tools that flag risk at the source.

Highway, MyCarrierPortal, and similar vetting systems integrate with real-time federal and insurance databases. They automatically surface inconsistencies and red flags so you can make informed decisions fast. This is not just about protection. It is about running a responsible, reliable operation.

Final Thoughts

Freight fraud is no longer a fringe risk. It is a daily concern for brokers, carriers, and shippers alike. But with vigilance, process discipline, and smart use of vetting tools, you can protect your team and your freight.

You do not need to overhaul your entire tech stack to avoid scams. You just need to put up smarter guardrails.

Use a vetting tool. Trust, but verify. And never assume that what looks like a simple load is what it claims to be. info@sunnybrooksoftware.com 913.210.0514