Fake carriers and other forms of fraud

Wed 10 June 2026

Crime is a major issue for the transport and logistics sectors. Not only are carriers affected, but also their clients: shippers, manufacturers and other stakeholders. What was once seen as an occasional incident is increasingly developing into organised crime, often with significant financial consequences that are not always easy to insure.

From isolated incidents to a structural risk

Today’s criminals use social engineering, digital tools and extensive knowledge of logistics processes. They know exactly where vulnerabilities lie and strike at moments of pressure: just before weekends, during holiday periods or when processes temporarily deviate from normal procedures. Various sector publications reveal a clear pattern:

Convincing emails, correct company names and existing contact persons create trust
Requests for small deviations from the normal process, such as a different delivery address, urgent shipment or alternative carrier

Key trends and methods

Fake carriers

Criminals impersonate existing carriers using fake email addresses and disappear with the goods. Others pose as transport companies on digital freight platforms and steal the cargo. Some criminal networks even go as far as purchasing reputable transport companies abroad. They appoint a frontman, successfully complete several large shipments and then vanish. With the help of technology, documents increasingly appear authentic and convincing.

Vulnerability of digital platforms

Online freight marketplaces are an attractive target. The speed and efficiency of these platforms can facilitate fraud when checks are missing or skipped due to time pressure.

Fake buyers

Fraudsters pose as a well-known, creditworthy customer. They use real company names and correct addresses and request what appears to be a logical deviation from the standard process. For example, asking you to arrange transport “because the regular carrier is unavailable” or changing the delivery location “because the distribution centre is full”. The cargo then disappears.

Consequences: the impact is often greater than expected

Financial losses rarely stop at the value of the goods alone. In practice, we also see:
Disruption of deliveries and contractual obligations
Reputational damage and embarrassment
Complex liability discussions
And regularly: no or limited insurance coverage

To what extent do insurance policies provide protection?

For cargo owners and shippers

Trade credit insurance is primarily intended to cover non-payment. Fraud is usually not included under the standard cover. The strength of trade credit insurance lies mainly in early warning signals. Unusual ordering behaviour or uncommon delivery addresses become visible more quickly, enabling earlier intervention.
At present, cargo insurance policies often still cover theft and misappropriation. In practice, insurers attempt to recover the loss from the logistics service provider. At the same time, insurers are becoming increasingly critical regarding prevention measures, procedures and internal controls. Effective riskmanagement is increasingly essential.

Some fraud insurance policies still include theft or misappropriation of goods, such as fake buyer fraud, under the standard cover. However, cover for theft alone is generally not the main reason to purchase fraud insurance. Internal fraud and digital fraud pose a more significant insurable risk for logistics organisations.

For carriers and logistics service providers

Liability insurance policies for logistics providers increasingly include limitations and exclusions related to fraud or deception by third parties, particularly when digital freight platforms are involved. Cyber insurance mainly covers intangible losses and costs resulting from cyberattacks or IT disruptions, such as investigation and recovery costs, business interruption, ransom payments and liability claims. These policies almost never provide a solution for losses arising from stolen cargo.

Prevention: the most important line of defense

Several basic measures can significantly reduce the risk:

Be alert to deviations in ordering or delivery processes
Always verify alternative delivery addresses
In case of doubt, call the company’s known general phone number
Pay close attention to small differences in email addresses and domain names
Request Chamber of Commerce extracts, permits and proof of insurance
Be cautious of time pressure: in urgent situations, slow down rather than speed up
Work with a fixed network of carriers and prohibit subcontracting
Avoid digital freight platforms where possible
Train employees to recognise fraud signals
Review the new CCV Barrier Model designed to combat fake carriers

One extra verification step or a single phone call can prevent losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros.

Stronger together across the supply chain

From 1 June, the Stichting Fake Carrier initiative will officially launch. This initiative combines knowledge, centralises reports and develops tools to identify fraud more quickly. The foundation is broadly supported across the sector and underlines the importance of collaboration. Logistics fraud affects the entire supply chain.

“This type of fraud affects the entire supply chain. Only by sharing information and working together can we limit the damage. Stichting Fake Carrier is an important step forward in that respect.”

- Jos Vilten, Product Group Lead Cargo Liability, MSIG

In conclusion

Fake carriers and logistics fraud are no longer isolated incidents. They require an integrated approach combining prevention, insurance and risk management.

At Meijers, we therefore look beyond the insurance policy alone. We help organisations identify risks, strengthen processes and ensure that prevention, insurance and claims handling are properly aligned. That is what you can expect from Meijers and Meijers Credit: committed, knowledgeable and always focused on continuity.