Freight Fraud Awareness Day Targets Identity Theft and Double Brokering

Freight Fraud Awareness Day returns October 14 with a focus on identity manipulation, deceptive pickups and double brokering across the transportation network. FreightWaves reported October 12 that the third annual campaign brings together carriers, brokers, shippers, insurers and security providers to share lessons without exposing safeguards that criminals could copy.

Organizers say cargo crime increasingly begins with digital deception instead of a thief waiting near a truck. Criminals may impersonate a carrier, alter contact information, redirect a driver or use stolen credentials to obtain a legitimate load. Once a shipment changes hands, the loss can spread through claims, missed deliveries, damaged customer relationships and unpaid carriers. High-value and pharmaceutical freight can create added risks if stolen products reenter normal commerce outside required controls.

The campaign encourages companies to discuss attack patterns and report incidents so other operators can recognize the same warning signs. FreightWaves cited law-enforcement and industry specialists who said attackers understand transportation workflows and exploit gaps between dispatch, brokerage, pickup and delivery. That makes verification at each handoff more important than relying on a familiar company name or a convincing email.

Fleets and brokers should confirm phone numbers and email domains through independently sourced records, verify the driver and tractor assigned to a load, and require approval for last-minute destination changes. Drivers should not accept revised pickup instructions from an unverified contact and should report mismatched names, equipment or paperwork before moving freight. Dispatch teams need a clear escalation path, preserved messages and rapid notice to customers and law enforcement after a suspected incident. The strongest defense is a repeatable verification process that employees can use even when a load is urgent.