Highway Veritas: Latest Fraud Tactics
#1: Organized scams posing as enterprise shippers. #2: Bogus carriers, of course.
#1: Organized scams posing as enterprise shippers.
Real shipper details, not real shippers.
Fraudsters (criminals) are now running enterprise-scale scams, impersonating employees of large construction material and project planning firms, referencing real project details, and sending “legit-looking” emails with fake credit applications and bank information, promising wires of $5k–$300k.
The load gets diverted, and you never get paid.
Everything looks real, but it isn’t. '
On Wednesday, I posted this warning on LinkedIn and received responses from others who have been targeted.
FreightCaviar also featured a similar case on their Instagram.
Devastating example: California business loses $175K in flooring shipped to Baltimore in cargo theft scam
Fraudsters (criminals) posing as employees of AECOM, a major construction firm, placed a large order using real project details and a fake email domain. Visona shipped $175,000 worth of tile and luxury vinyl plank flooring to Baltimore.
The payment never came.
The three-generation family business now faces potential bankruptcy.
Claudia Visona, sales manager at Galleria Tile in San Francisco, fell victim to one of these scams. Criminals impersonated employees of AECOM, a major construction firm, using realistic project details and fake email domains to place a large order.
Believing the order was legitimate, Visona shipped $175,000 worth of tile and luxury vinyl plank flooring, but the payment never came. The family-owned business, now in its third generation, faces possible bankruptcy.
“My mom and my grandma’s legacy is destroyed too,” Visona said. “It’s something I was so proud to be part of. It’s really frustrating.”
#2: Bogus carriers, of course.
Multiple verified freight fraud attempts have been reported this week, originating from California. Fraudsters (criminals) are successfully passing carrier vetting tools.
They submit seemingly legitimate truck, trailer, and driver information, then bail on the load within minutes.
Their goal? Impersonate a legitimate carrier, obtain the load details/rate confirmation documents, jet over to pick it up, and disappear with the freight.
Technology can assist. It can help flag the bad guys, but it cannot replace human judgment. The best fraud prevention tool you have (outside of the technology) is still your own discernment. Trust your instincts, confirm details by phone, and question ANYTHING that feels off.
Don’t outsource your common sense to software.
Tech recommendations: SearchCarriers.com & GenLogs.
I hope that one day, we will have a high-trust industry again.
But for now… Be vigilant. Be skeptical. Stay safe out there.
—Danielle