FBI warns of surging cyber cargo theft targeting freight brokers

Cargo theft has shifted from highway ambushes to credential compromise. Attackers hijack freight broker accounts to reroute shipments and impersonate legitimate carriers—a tactic that scales faster and leaves less forensic trail than physical theft. North American cargo theft losses jumped 60% year-over-year, reflecting supply chain security that treats digital access controls as an afterthought. Account takeover is cheaper and lower-risk than physical theft. The vulnerability runs deeper: the entire handoff between broker, carrier, and shipper relies on email and account credentials with minimal cryptographic verification. Organized theft networks now rationally target the digital layer instead of the road.