OAK BROOK, Ill. – As the trucking and logistics industry embraces digital tools for speed and efficiency, new security gaps are being exploited by criminals—leading to a surge in cargo theft, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

In 2023, cargo crime losses reached over $1 billion for the first time. That figure is expected to rise another 22% by the end of 2025, driven by high-tech tactics including VoIP masking, GPS jamming, synthetic identities, and strategic fraud in the logistics chain.

“From the comfort of their own home or overseas, a criminal can reroute cargo using spoofed contact info, GPS interference, and fake identities,” said Robert Bornstein, NICB Cargo Theft Program Director, via PR Newswire. “These costs are eventually passed to the consumer.”

How Thieves Are Exploiting Technology

• GPS Jamming: Devices block cargo tracking to move loads undetected

• VoIP Numbers: Services like TextNow are used to impersonate carriers

• Synthetic IDs: Fake credentials derived from stolen data are used to bid on loads

• Phishing: Targeted scams trick supply chain personnel into revealing sensitive information

Emerging Tactics in Cargo Theft

• Railway Theft: Thieves hit cargo in transit or in rail yards, especially in remote areas

• Ransom Demands: Thieves posing as legitimate carriers hold shipments for ransom

• Shortening Loads: Only part of the cargo is stolen, leaving the rest untouched to avoid detection

• Strategic Cargo Theft: Criminals infiltrate one or more supply chain layers through fraud and deceit

NICB’s Recommended Countermeasures

• Screen & train all employees

• Vet transportation partners carefully — no double brokering allowed

• Use secure in-transit protocols (e.g., no stops in the first 200 miles)

• Deploy layers of security — lighting, alarms, tracking, surveillance

• Scrutinize VoIP communications and spoofed emails

• Regularly audit and test shipment protections

“The only way to stop cargo theft is through deterrence,” NICB states.

If suspicious activity is detected, NICB urges individuals to contact law enforcement, their insurance provider, or the NICB hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB.