Fake carriers, identity theft, and cargo theft—once scenarios confined to crime novels have now become an existential threat to shippers and logistics companies. Losses caused by so-called “phantom carriers” have reached record highs. We examine the current situation and outline how to protect against this risk.

In 2025, losses from fraudulent cargo theft surged dramatically. Hundreds of cases were registered in Germany alone, with an average loss of approximately €200,000 per incident. But what lies behind these “fake carrier” schemes, and why are long-established security measures increasingly ineffective?

      How do they operate?

The most common method involves stealing the identity of a real, reputable transport company, while making subtle changes to contact details—for example, changing beijer-logistics.nl to bejier-logistics.nl (position of letter "i" is changed). Combined with forged documents such as commercial register extracts and insurance certificates, the deception appears entirely credible. Shippers unknowingly hand over high-value goods—such as copper, household appliances, or electronics—to imposters.

Another tactic involves acquiring financially distressed small transport firms to exploit their legitimate credentials on freight platforms. The fraudsters then steal multiple loads within days before disappearing once detected.

      Which shipments are most at risk?

High-value, easily resold goods—such as metals, electronics, and major appliances are the primary targets. Shipments valued under €30,000 or mixed less-than-truckload (LTL)/Groupage consignments are less attractive due to lower profit margins or difficulty in resale.

      How to effectively prevent fraud?

      Scrutinize email addresses 

Before issuing a transport order, meticulously verify that the carrier’s email address matches exactly with the one registered on the freight platform. Be especially cautious of free email domains like Gmail or @wp.pl, even if they appear professional.

      Independent verification via phone or bank transfer

For new partners, place a verification call using an independently sourced phone number—obtained from official registries, the company’s genuine website, or industry associations. Do not use contact details provided by the carrier.

Alternatively, request a symbolic €1 bank transfer from the carrier’s corporate account to your company account. Verify that:

      The account holder name matches the registered company name

      The IBAN country code aligns with the company’s registered location

Fraudsters often avoid this step due to lack of legitimate banking credentials.

      Recognize red flags

      Unusually low freight rates (“too good to be true”)

      Aggressive pressure and unrealistic time demands

      Contact available only via mobile phone

      Risk management

High-risk shipments—such as metals or high-value electronics—should only be assigned to long-standing, verified partners. Maintain an internal whitelist of pre-approved carriers and implement technical controls to enforce compliance, even during peak operational stress.

The digitalization of logistics offers immense opportunities but also opens doors for highly sophisticated fraudsters. Only through a combination of staff awareness and technical verification processes can the risk posed by phantom carriers be effectively minimized.