November 14, 2025
Share:
Across the U.S., freight fraud has moved beyond an operational inconvenience into a systemic threat. Highway’s Q3 2025 Fraud Index confirmed what many logistics leaders already sense on the ground: fraud attempts have increased 219% year over year, with over 48,700 fake carrier identities flagged in a single quarter. Average losses per cargo theft have surged past $219,000, and double brokering is no longer the exception. It's common enough to reshape broker-shipper dynamics entirely.
This is all happening against a volatile market backdrop. With spot rates tightening, broker bankruptcies increasing, and carrier exits mounting, shippers are being forced to seek out new capacity more often and more urgently. That is where much of the current fraud risk lives. Every new relationship presents an opportunity for imposters and bad actors to exploit legacy systems and outdated vetting processes.
The most common carrier vetting workflows, FMCSA checks, insurance validation, basic onboarding documents, were designed for a different time. They confirm whether a carrier exists, not whether they are legitimate, active, and authorized for the shipment in question.
Fraudsters have figured this out. Today’s scams range from spoofed emails that intercept freight before it moves, to carriers bidding on specialized lanes they are not certified to run, to seemingly valid insurance documents that are canceled hours after being submitted.
In many cases, shippers are forced to choose between speed and certainty. That is exactly when fraud strikes. The reality is that risk enters the equation the moment a load is tendered, and verifying trust after the fact is already too late.
The message is clear: fraud prevention today depends on digital security, procedural discipline, and identity verification across every touchpoint.
Some of the core recommendations include:
These steps are not just IT protocols. They are operational habits that high-trust supply chains are now building into daily workflows.
The shippers who have successfully reduced fraud risk are not doing it with more forms or longer processes. Instead, they are shifting their approach entirely:
This is why many now prioritize technologies that integrate live data, AI-powered behavior scoring, and real-time carrier monitoring. More importantly, they have created a culture where operational speed never overrides identity certainty.
As brokers consolidate and digital procurement accelerates, fraud risk will continue to evolve. Compliance cannot be a background task. It must be front and center in every load decision. Whether you are building your own internal defenses or working with partners who can vet risk at scale, the takeaway is the same: freight fraud is now a supply chain constant, and shippers that take a proactive stance will be the ones that retain trust, efficiency, and resilience.
For logistics leaders navigating this shift, the most important move is not to react faster. It is to verify earlier.
What is freight fraud?
Freight fraud refers to deceptive practices in the logistics industry, such as fake carrier identities, double brokering, spoofed dispatch communications, and stolen loads. These activities cost the industry hundreds of millions annually.
Why is freight fraud increasing in 2025?
The rise of digital load matching, economic pressure on brokers, and outdated compliance systems have created vulnerabilities that organized fraud rings are exploiting. According to Highway, fraud attempts are up 219% year over year in Q3 2025.
How are shippers exposed?
Many vetting systems only check if a carrier’s MC is active or insurance is valid. They do not confirm if the carrier is trustworthy, active, or appropriate for a specific load or lane. This leaves shippers open to impersonation and theft.
What is the most common freight scam?
Spoofed emails that hand off freight to imposters is currently one of the most prevalent tactics, alongside double brokering and the use of recycled MC numbers.
How does AI help prevent freight fraud?
AI systems like those used in NuvoOS evaluate 150 or more signals per load — from identity and lane history to insurance verification and behavior patterns — to flag fraud before it happens. This allows shippers to move quickly while staying protected.
Can traditional compliance systems catch these frauds?
Most legacy systems cannot. They often miss spoofed contact info, recycled documents, or real-time behavioral inconsistencies. That is why many shippers are integrating dynamic, AI-powered solutions into their procurement workflows.
What is NuvoOS?
NuvoOS is Nuvocargo’s AI-powered operating system designed to secure freight procurement. It embeds fraud detection directly into load tendering and bid review to help eliminate fake carriers and streamline trusted capacity.
