Freight fraud attempts are on the rise—and thieves are getting more coordinated and strategic in their efforts to target freight brokers and carrier networks, according to the Q2 2025 Freight Fraud Index from carrier identity and access management solutions company Highway, released this week.
Highway’s most recent report revealed a 41% increase in fraudulent email attempts and a 23% increase in broker-reported identity fraud in the second quarter of 2025 compared to Q1. Highway said it flagged and blocked more than 495,000 fraudulent emails and more than 42,000 suspicious phone numbers, and issued nearly 2,300 identity alerts during that time period.
The findings reflect broader national trends, according to Highway. The company cited the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB), which recently reported a 27% year-over-year increase in U.S. cargo theft, with identity manipulation, email compromises, and phone-based identity fraud among the top tactics used by fraud rings.
“Freight fraud isn’t just opportunistic anymore—it’s coordinated and strategic,” Michael Grace, vice president of customer risk management at Highway, said in a statement announcing the report. “Attackers are gaining trust, mimicking legitimate behavior, and infiltrating networks through identity blind spots brokers and carriers don’t even realize exist.”
Highway says brokers are especially at risk. The report offers some key mitigation tactics:
- Use secure delivery methods for rate confirmations;
- Verify contact changes and MC (sold motor carrier) activity through trusted platforms;
- Require multi-factor authentication wherever possible;
- Educate operations teams on the latest red flags and escalation paths.
“Fraudsters are patient. They’re watching, waiting, and moving when your defenses are down,” added Grace.
The full report is available for download on Highway’s website.
Highway
