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There are a lot factors putting stress on the logistics industry in 2025. From the truck driver shortage to all the tariff drama, business owners are putting out fires as fast as they can, which makes the threat of scams that much more stressful.
Logistics and trucking scams have become an unfortunate reality in the industry over the last few years. Given the financial and reputational hazards that come with falling victim to these grifts, avoidance needs to be a top priority for business owners, and the first step is identifying what kind of scams are out there.
In this guide, you’ll learn about some of the popular logistics and trucking scams in 2025, as well as how prevalent this kind of thing has become and what you can do to avoid them in the future.
Top Logistics Scams in 2025
There are lots of logistics and trucking scams to look out for in 2025 – but some are more common than others. Here are the top logistics scams:
1. Driver-in-Need Scam
A driver-in-need scam involves a scammer obtaining information from a legitimate driver — either through phishing or other means — and then using it to contact their employer. They will then request a cash advance for “driver in need” assistance, which will then be used to enrich the scammer in question.
The driver-in-need scam relies heavily on a trucking or logistics company having too many drivers to keep track of in a meaningful way, which further establishes the need for technology like fleet management software when running these kinds of businesses.
2. Fake-Repair-Shop Scam
Another scam that relies on companies with a large fleet is the fake-repair-shop scam. This one involves a scammer reaching out to a company posing as a maintenance facility or repair shop, insisting that it has made repairs on one of their vehicles. They will request funds to pay for it and threaten to hold the cargo until the payment is made.
Of course, there is no repair shop, there is no cargo being held hostage, and there should be no payment sent – as long as you’re aware of this scam.
3. Double-Brokering Scam
The double-brokering scam is a bit more complicated than the others, but it can still have a seriously detrimental effect on your business.
It starts with a scammer signing a deal with a broker or other logistics provider to haul freight. Then the scammer will contact a carrier or owner-operator to re-broker the deal, pawning off the work on this new provider. They will then request payment before the load has arrived, leaving the original provider on the hook for paying the carrier or owner-operator, resulting in double payment.
4. FMCSA-Impersonator Scam
Emails from the government always create a bit of stress, which is why scams impersonating officials from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) can be successful. That is, of course, if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
In this particular scam, scammers send an email to a company pretending to be from. The email requests information, like a Social Security Number or a US Department of Transportation (USDOT) PIN, which can be used to facilitate other scams on this list and beyond.
A screenshot of the fake email being sent by scammers impersonating the FMCSA. Source: FMCSA
5. Advance Scam
This is a popular scam that specifically targets brokers. A scammer will reach out to a broker after acquiring the necessary information from a legitimate driver. Then, they will book a load and request cash advances on it, either for fuel or other travel expenses, without any intention of delivering the load.
Even worse, instead of ghosting the broker, the scammer will sometimes hold the load hostage, demanding even more payment to give access back to the valuable assets in question.
How Prevalent Are Logistics Scams?
Just because you haven’t fallen victim to a logistics scam yet, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening in record numbers around the industry. The reality is that the industry is seeing a crisis when it comes to scams, with businesses taking a serious hit to their bottom line.
According to the State of Fraud in the Industry report from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), there were 1,600 reports of fraud between September 2024 and February 2025, which represents an unsettlingly 65% increase from the previous year.
As for what kinds of fraud are the most troublesome, the report noted that unlawful brokerage is at the top of the list, hitting 34% of businesses in 2025. Even worse, 83% of businesses noted that they had experienced at least three different types of fraud, which means being informed can go a long way in helping you avoid these issues.
What Is the Government Doing to Stop Logistics Scams?
Because the logistics industry is so vast, it can be hard to check and double-check every request to make sure it’s legitimate. As a result, scammers can take advantage, particularly if there aren’t any government regulations in place to shut them down.
Fortunately, the US government has made an effort in recent years to pass legislation designed to curb logistics scams and keep trucking businesses safe. Here are some of the initiatives in place to do just that:
- FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System – This system makes it easier for businesses to verify the legitimacy of broker and carrier contacts to avoid fraudulent behavior.
- Registry Monitoring Insurance Services (RMIS) – This service provides a comprehensive list of certified and insured freight carriers and brokers for easy verification.
- Training and Education Programs – The government offers a range of online education resources that can help you spot and avoid logistics scams.
While these measures are helpful, many organizations have noted that it is not enough. Some of the entries in the databases are out of date, and the education lacks substance, according to some, and there needs to be more of an effort to protect these businesses from the government.
How to Avoid Logistics Scams
Given the prevalence of logistics scams and how bad they can be for business, it’s understandable that owners are on the hunt for ways to avoid them. The good news is that just by reading this article, you’re taking the first step to protect your business, as awareness and understanding of existing scams can be the best way to avoid them.
That is, of course, not the only way to avoid logistics scams in 2025, though. Here are some other steps you can take to avoid logistics scams.
- Employ technology – Tools like asset tracking software can help you monitor, analyze, and manage your valuable assets on the road, so you don’t fall victim to scams that rely on your lack of awareness.
- Bolster security – Measures like two-factor authentication and passkeys will make it harder for bad actors to get access to data they can use to scam you.
- Educate your team – Being informed on your own won’t keep you safe from scams if your team doesn’t know what to look out for, so make sure to spread the knowledge around.
Unfortunately, with evolving technology and increasingly complicated systems in place, scammers are going to remain a threat to your logistics business for the foreseeable future. So if you want to avoid getting your business in hot water, you’ll need to actually take steps to keep you and your business as safe as possible.
Stay Informed on Logistics
The logistics industry is in constant flux, particularly given the state of the world in 2025. As a result, staying informed will not only help you avoid scams, but it will ensure that your business is equipped to weather any storm that may come your way.
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