Thieves are using new tricks and tech to steal more cargo as the supply chain becomes more digital, according to experts. The risk for cargo theft is climbing and is expected to be up 22% by the end of 2025.
What's happening: Bad actors are now hacking systems, posing as carriers, and using GPS jammers to steal loads before anyone even knows something's wrong.
- GPS jammers let thieves move stolen cargo without tracking. Some even turn off trackers that aren't hidden well.
- VoIP numbers and fake IDs are being used to pretend to be real companies and reroute shipments to their own drop-offs.
- Phishing emails and attacks trick workers into handing over private info, or give hackers a way into company systems.
By the numbers: The losses passed $1 billion in 2023, with an average theft now worth over $200,000. In 2024, theft jumped again—up 27% from the year before, and the outlook for 2025 is that it won’t slow down, reported PR Newswire.
The bottom line: As tech advances, criminals are keeping up—using everything from spoofed phone numbers to jamming devices and fake paperwork to trick even experienced people in trucking and freight.