Cargo Theft on the Rise: NICB Warns of Increase in Crimes Leveraging VoIP, GPS, and Synthetic IDs

Strategic Insights -

As digitalization in the logistics industry has led to faster and more efficient transportation of goods, it has also created vulnerabilities that allow criminals to exploit cargo delivery systems. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the value of stolen merchandise and estimated loss rose to more than $1 billion in 2023, with cargo crimes increasing by 27% from 2023. The NICB predicts that annual cargo theft losses will rise another 22% by the end of 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The estimated average value of an individual theft is $202,000.
  • Technologies used to commit these crimes include GPS Jamming, VoIP such as TextNow, and synthetic IDs created from a mix of real and fake identifiers.
  • Criminals are leveraging these services to spoof legitimate carrier contact information, impersonate companies, and reroute freight to unauthorized drop locations.
  • Railway Theft, Ransom Demands, Shortening Loads, and Strategic Cargo Theft are all forms of cargo theft that are on the rise.
  • The NICB recommends that entities engaged in the supply chain take precautions such as screening employees, conducting background checks, training employees on signs of cargo theft, and using freight brokers and transporters who share a security philosophy.
  • Implementing in-transit security measures, including countersurveillance and technology such as alarm surveillance systems and vehicle and cargo tracking, can also help prevent cargo theft.

Statistics:

  • The value of stolen merchandise and estimated loss rose to more than $1 billion in 2023.
  • Cargo crimes increased by 27% from 2023.
  • Annual cargo theft losses are expected to rise another 22% by the end of 2025.
  • The estimated average value of an individual theft is $202,000.

Sources:

  • Release from PRNewswire dated June 25, 2025.
  • National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) press release.