A lack of awareness continues to leave trucking companies vulnerable to cyber-enabled cargo crime, as fraudsters exploit gaps in knowledge, and leverage emerging technologies and tools based in AI, reports Trucknews.com .
“Be informed. Educate yourself. Ignorance is the first opportunity for exploitation,” said Shawn Rasmor, principal product manager at Truckstop,com, during a National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) webinar on freight fraud prevention, reported by TN.
Rasmor and Ben Wilkens, principal cybersecurity engineer at NMFTA, said that cyber-enabled freight fraud is becoming more sophisticated, with criminals increasingly using phishing, spoofed websites and compromised systems to steal identities, divert loads and access sensitive information.
While these tactics have existed for years, the panellists said they are evolving rapidly in both scale and precision.
Rasmor said these developments highlight the limitations of relying solely on automated systems or basic security controls. While automation has helped improve efficiency across the industry, it has also introduced new vulnerabilities when not paired with proper verification.
He emphasized that building trusted relationships and verifying identities remain critical safeguards, particularly as fraud schemes become harder to detect.
Wilkens said companies should ensure safeguards are built into their processes, especially for high-risk actions. Even when communications appear legitimate, additional verification steps can help prevent unauthorized activity.
Both speakers stressed that companies should shift their mindset from trying to fully prevent cyber incidents to focusing on reducing their impact.
“It’s not a question of if you’re going to be compromised, but when,” Rasmor said. “The key is minimizing the impact.”
Full article here.