Crime rings, hackers join forces to hijack trucks nationwide, fueling major holiday shipping security fears

A new wave of organized crime maneuvers is taking aim at Americans holiday shopping purchases and their wallets Hackers leveraging malware systems and other cybercriminal tools are infiltrating online freight marketplaces to make off with high-value cargo while items are in transit I think the criminals have identified that the weak point between point A and point B is in transportation right Michael Evanoff chief safeguard officer and strategic advisor for AI-security company Verkada recounted Fox News Digital So instead of putting yourself in harm's way by going to a depot or a distribution center why not capture it in transit Since both freight companies and law enforcement have seen an alarming uptick in criminal groups utilizing remote online methods to hijack cargo deliveries and make off with valuable loot AMERICAN TRUCKING INDUSTRY URGES LAWMAKERS TO ACT AS ONLINE CARGO THEFT SURGES When the COVID- pandemic hit we saw a big spike Keith Lewis vice president of operations at Verisk CargoNet informed Fox News Digital Then the year after that cases dropped back down again and we thought we were somewhat normalizing Then with the tools and the techniques that the bad guys learned from COVID it's almost like they took a year off went to school came back and reinvented themselves They started using the internet to commit acts of fraud versus just straight up traditional thefts of stealing the truck at the truck stop or the rest area and that's when the fraud started taking off The current year has seen a rise in cargo thefts nationwide with over million in losses stemming from stolen goods being recorded according to figures circulated by Verisk CargoNet Additionally evidence indicates the average value of the stolen shipments has risen to SOPHISTICATED PORCH PIRATE RING HACKED SHIPMENT TRACKING INFO TO STEAL HUNDREDS OF PHONES PROSECUTOR SAYSThe process for stealing goods is simplified for thieves thanks to modern internet tools and artificial intelligence Cybercriminals will often turn to online load boards an online marketplace in which companies and truck drivers can share details regarding upcoming shipments to determine which vehicles they want to target You can find a load or a driver and company can find a load to move their equipment Lewis commented That's where the big predicament comes in We don't know who we're talking to on the other end of the I wouldn't even say phone line but the other end of the computer grid From there criminals will create an online account and impersonate a truck driver or company to gain more information about a shipment Additionally companies are now using artificial intelligence to screen cargo and drivers ultimately making it even easier for hackers to fool the application into thinking they are a legitimate individual in the supply chain ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS DRIVE STREET TAKEOVERS BY USING KIDS TO STEAL CARS FOR WILD STUNTS EXPERT The vetting process has just almost gone out the window Lewis narrated Fox News Digital So you think about well who's vetting this truck who's making sure it's the right truck or with the right driver No one is Once criminals have identified the contents and location of a specific cargo truck they will then intercept the unmarked carriage with fake identification to fool the driver into handing over their items This cannot work without the human and cyber aspect Evanoff recounted Fox News Digital You're basically meeting a truck with no designation on it So criminals will cyber-in and then back it up with somebody being there in the truck to take the load at the designated place that was intended online CRIMINAL NETWORKS EXPLOIT US INTERSTATES TO MAKE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASUALTIES VANISH REAL PLAGUE The holiday season also serves as a prime opportunity for thieves to target larger-than-usual cargo shipments In the Thanksgiving period there were recorded instances of cargo theft within the United States marking a increase from the prior year and accounting for roughly million in losses according to statistics issued by Verisk CargoNet Consumable goods are the top commodity targeted by thieves followed by household goods and electronic appliances input shows BLACK FRIDAY THEFT THREAT TURNS HOLIDAY WEEKEND INTO SHOPLIFTERS' 'SUPER BOWL' FORMER DETECTIVEAdditionally facts from Verisk CargoNet reveals that the New York City metropolitan area has become a hotbed for criminal groups looking to misdirect shipments while in transit with states like California Florida and Texas also serving as a catalyst for cargo thefts Earlier this year the Department of Transportation DOT sent out a notice asking stakeholders to share commentary regarding how the federal cabinet can better develop strategies to cut down on cargo thefts signaling the issue is garnering the attention of high-level law enforcement officers The DOT added that all types of cargo thefts create crucial economic losses disrupt supply chains and in selected cases fund broader illicit events such as narcotics trafficking counterfeiting and human smuggling The national safety aspect of cybercriminals targeting cargo shipments is echoed by Lewis who explained that crime rings will often send the stolen items out of the country or sell the goods to Americans who believe they are making a legitimate purchase We have tracked these groups to -plus countries Lewis recounted Fox News Digital Lewis added that once the items are taken abroad or sold to consumers they become virtually untraceable by law enforcement The bad guys have set up a supply chain that's somewhat legitimate overseas Lewis explained When they get across the ocean with these goods they're not stolen anymore There's no tracking They can move them freely around their country and around the world with no hesitation For now research companies are primarily focused on identifying the criminal groups habits by conducting surveillance of their networks meaning limited arrests are being made However experts warn that while good-willed individuals have access to mechanism to track down thieves criminals also have access The supply chain moves at the speed of light Lewis revealed But the bad-guy supply chain moves just as fast