Cargo theft isn’t new. For decades, criminals have targeted trucks at rest stops, unsecured yards, or in-transit shipments. What’s new is digital deception. Today, cybercriminals don’t need bolt cutters or stolen keys. They only need an email address, a spoofed carrier profile, or a hacked dispatch system. Bad actors orchestrate physical theft through cyber fraud, costing shippers and logistics providers dearly.
Cargonet noted a 46% increase in cargo theft in the United States between 2023-2024, with cyber-enabled fraud playing a significant role. The same tactics that once diverted wire transfers now redirect entire freight loads. Theft remains the crime, but the methods have grown more sophisticated and more difficult to defend against. These evolving threats are serious, but there are measures you can use today to stay protected.
When cybercrime hits the road
Traditional cargo theft conjures images of stolen trailers or fenced-in lots. But today’s scams involve fraudulent pickups, where impostors pose as legitimate carriers to steal freight. In one real-world case, criminals hacked into a trucking company’s system, identified a scheduled pharmaceutical pickup, and contacted the legitimate driver to “reschedule.” A fake truck with the right branding arrived at the warehouse on time, loaded the shipment, and vanished.
These crimes aren’t opportunistic. Threat actors infiltrate logistics systems, monitor schedules, and insert themselves between shippers and carriers. The rise of load boards and digital freight-matching platforms, while increasing efficiency, has also created new vulnerabilities. Because these systems often allow anyone with minimal documentation to post or accept loads, fraudsters can pose as legitimate carriers, secure shipments, and disappear before verification catches up. The convenience of fast digital matching dilutes the vetting process, giving criminals an easy entry point into the supply chain. And when the fraud succeeds, many companies discover that their insurance can’t handle this new reality.
Why insurance isn’t always a safety net
Many companies assume their cargo policies will respond in the event of theft. But cyber-enabled thefts are exposing dangerous coverage gaps.
Take, for example, a $500,000 claim for stolen clothing during a fraudulent pickup. The insurer denied the claim because the shipper had unknowingly handed the cargo to an impostor, not a legitimate motor carrier. As a result, the policy language didn’t apply.
Most cargo insurance forms currently ignore cyber-related theft. In recent months, however, insurers have started adding carvebacks and sub-limits for cyber fraud losses. A policy may list a $250,000 cargo limit, but cap cyber-related theft coverage at $150,000 or exclude it entirely.
This shift mirrors the evolution of cyber insurance a decade ago. When cyber insurance first emerged, carriers provided expansive coverage but placed few obligations on the insured. As losses mounted, insurers tightened policy language and began requiring safeguards like multi-factor authentication as a condition of coverage. If history repeats itself, cargo insurers will likely follow suit, placing the burden of prevention directly on shippers, carriers, and logistics providers.
Training and verification are non-negotiable
Most supply chain leaders recognize the importance of employee training, but execution often falls short. Hanging a bulletin in the breakroom isn’t enough. Insurers look for substance.
Effective training includes:
· Regular sessions that keep risks top of mind, similar to weekly fleet maintenance stand-ups.
· Documented systems that track completion rates and frequency, much like cyber training platforms in other industries.
· Simulated attacks like phishing tests teach employees how to recognize red flags in emails, URLs, or phone requests.
One of the most common tactics is social engineering, where criminals exploit human trust through deceptive emails, calls, or credentials to steal freight. Criminals rely on human trust and exploit system weaknesses. Consistent and measurable training helps prevent these attacks. It also provides documentation that insurers will soon require to confirm risk controls are in place.
Equally important is independent verification. Third-party platforms now exist to vet drivers, validate carrier credentials, and confirm that the truck at your dock matches the truck you hired. These tools are moving from nice to have to non-negotiable. And the urgency only grows when you consider how broader cyber trends collide with transportation risks.
The broader cyber connection
The rise of cyber cargo crime isn’t an isolated phenomenon. It reflects larger cyber trends reshaping risk in 2025 and beyond.
· AI-driven fraud: Criminals are experimenting with deepfake voices and AI-powered phishing. Logistics is a ripe target because of its transactional speed and reliance on rapid communications. A convincing fake dispatch call or altered email could reroute millions in goods.
· Operational technology (OT) and IoT vulnerabilities: Telematics, freight-matching apps, and connected devices create multiple entry points. Many logistics companies rely on aging infrastructure, making it easier for attackers to exploit weak links.
· Business continuity risks: A single successful cyber theft doesn’t just mean one lost load. It can cascade into missed production schedules, stockouts, and reputational damage. As with zero-day exploits in IT, plan for unknowns that disrupt operations far beyond a single incident.
Recognizing these parallels helps you see cyber cargo theft as a part of a much larger resilience challenge that demands enterprise-level action.
Resilience strategies for modern cargo threats
To protect against cyber-enabled cargo theft and remain insurable, adopt these strategies now:
· Real-time cargo tracking: Affordable technology now allows tagging individual cartons inside a pallet, so if a shipment is diverted or stolen, you can detect it immediately and alert authorities. Early detection dramatically improves the chances of recovery.
· Third-party verification platforms: These vet drivers and carriers before they arrive at your dock. Think of it as a “blue check” system for freight.
· Direct carrier communication: Cut through spoofed emails and intermediaries by verifying all scheduling changes via trusted channels.
· Employee training: Educate your staff to recognize suspicious requests and respond swiftly in the event of a theft or hijacking.
· Law enforcement coordination: Immediate reporting dramatically improves the chances of cargo recovery.
Treat these best practices as prerequisites for maintaining operational resilience and insurance protection.
Protections in an era of digital theft
You can’t afford to treat cyber cargo crime as just an insurance issue or an IT problem. The reality is more complex. Digital deception facilitates physical theft, creating losses that fall into a gray area between cyber and cargo coverage.
Insurers are already adapting. Companies that cannot demonstrate effective safeguards may find themselves unable to secure coverage at all. Companies unable to demonstrate real-time tracking, third-party vetting, and systemic training will find themselves uninsurable or uninsured when a loss occurs.
Don’t wait for the forms to change. Harden your defenses and prioritize safeguards against cyber cargo theft. The cost of inaction is profound.
