Fraudsters set up fake transport firms to quote for carriage and then steal shipments
The US is experiencing an increase in cases of shipments being intercepted by fraudsters posing as transport companies, it has been claimed.
According to logistics security company Freight watch International, the rash of thefts are mainly occurring via online brokering sites.
Freight watch International warned: “Criminal elements use these online sites to impersonate legitimate carriers and win business from shippers. Of course, the loads never arrive at their destination and are never seen again.”
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is said to be among the authorities warning of a rise in this type of activity. Other cases seen in the past month have been in Florida and Ohio, Indiana.
The LAPD said it was carrying out a “widespread investigation”, currently focusing on a group of Armenian individuals who use false or stolen identification, while supplying legitimate company information to broker deals via the internet.
In one incident, the US-based Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Consortium warned its members to be aware of an organized crime gang that “fraudulently obtained a driver’s identification credentials and used those credentials to establish a fictitious trucking company”.
This fake company was even registered with the US Department of Transport.
The consortium’s Chuck Forsaith said that, over the Easter weekend, eight shipments were stolen in this way.
Two involved pharmaceuticals, including one shipment of medical devices. The total value of the eight shipments has been estimated to exceed US$1.2 million.
Kizzi Nkwocha | Wed, 4 May 2011, IFW News