The FBI's Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force is warning shippers and carriers about a rise in cyber-enabled freight theft, in which criminals gain access to shipment details before a truck ever reaches a pickup location. The task force, which grew out of an Auto Cargo Theft Task Force established around 2008, works alongside the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate freight crime that crosses state lines.
Investigators say the schemes typically begin with computer intrusions or social engineering that expose sensitive shipment information, including pickup times, cargo contents, and carrier credentials. Criminals then impersonate legitimate trucking companies to deceive freight brokers and warehouse staff, allowing a fraudulent driver to collect a load that appears to carry proper authorization. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Baker, who oversees the Memphis field office's cargo theft operations, said the theft is frequently completed before a truck ever arrives at the dock, meaning the physical pickup is often the final step in a scheme that began online.
The FBI is coordinating with the National Motor Freight Traffic Association and other industry groups to help carriers and brokers identify warning signs before a load is released. Memphis has long served as a hub for interstate freight movement given its position along major trucking corridors, which investigators say has made the region a recurring target for organized cargo theft rings.
Source: FreightWaves -- https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fbis-memphis-cargo-theft-task-force-warns-cyber-schemes-put-millions-in-freight-at-risk