- Incidents increased 18% and theft value increased 36% in 2025
- FBI Warns of ‘Cyber-Enabled Strategic Cargo Thefts’
- Basic safety hygiene already goes some way to preventing attacks
The FBI has warned that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting cargo shipments with hacking and impersonation tactics – and making a big profit from it.
With incidents increasing by 18% by 2025 and the average value per theft increased by around 36% (to $273,990) due to criminals targeting high-value items, losses in the US and Canada alone hit around $725 million during the year, a significant 60% year-over-year increase.
As for the nature of the attacks, it demonstrates the fusion of digital and physical as attackers combine cyber and fraud techniques in what the FBI calls “cyber-enabled strategic cargo thefts.”
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Hybrid attacks
The warning reveals that attackers are exploiting human vulnerability to gain initial access to company systems – phishing emails and fake login pages are launched to steal credentials before hackers install remote access tools to move laterally within an organization.
Once inside, they post fake shipping lists, pretend to be legitimate logistics companies to accept real shipments, and divert goods to criminal or complicit drivers.
But cargo theft is not the primary target of cybercriminals – for many, it is a tool used to finance other crimes such as drug trafficking or money laundering. As for the targets within the logistics sector, shipping, freight brokerage, delivery and insurance companies are all at risk.
In terms of the impact on a victim, many are not even aware that they have been attacked until their shipments disappear, with the digitization of supply chains ultimately responsible for creating new attack surfaces.
To better protect themselves against this growing threat, businesses are being warned to verify all sending requests to ensure emails are legitimate. Basic cybersecurity principles also apply, including protecting accounts with multi-factor authentication.
Maintaining records of drivers, vehicles, and shipments is also a good idea, not only for audit purposes, but also to help the FBI track down criminals in case things go south.
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