Thieves Use Hacked Broker Accounts and GPS Spoofing to Steal $100 Million in Data Center Cargo
Thieves stole over $100M in data center cargo since June via hacked broker accounts, fake loads and GPS spoofing.
The thieves first break into freight brokers’ accounts on shipment-listing websites and post fake shipments to attract legitimate bids, according to the report. They then send a malicious link to trucking companies that respond. When a victim clicks the link, the thieves install software that lets them take control of the company’s account and begin bidding on real shipments.
In some cases, a real delivery driver is hired to collect the cargo without knowing about the scam; in others, fake driver’s licenses are used to get accomplices hired, NBC News reported. The goods are eventually transferred to a driver working with the thieves, who resell the equipment. In one of the largest thefts, tracking coordinates were spoofed to prevent digital monitoring.
The targets are trucks carrying millions of dollars in expensive data center equipment. Investigators told NBC News that the digital tactics make such robberies easy and that they are advising law enforcement offices investigating the biggest thefts.