The FBI's Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force, which began as the Auto Cargo Theft Task Force and dropped the auto designation around 2008, now sees schemes that start with computer intrusion rather than a broken seal. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Baker, who has a cyber security background, describes intruders exposing shipment information before pickup, using social engineering to identify specific high-value freight, and then presenting a fraudulent pickup that appears legitimate to the employees handing it over. "Through cyber-enabled means, the theft has been done even before that truck arrives," Baker said, adding that crews "drive away with millions and millions of dollars worth of merchandise". He confirmed open matters involving extremely high-value goods and cyber-enabled methods, and compared freight targets to organisations with weak digital defences, saying the industry's cyber security "is going to have to be taken up several notches".
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sector | Transport |
| Date | 2026-09-26 |
| Source | FreightWaves |
| Reliability | Tier 3 |