North America cargo crime losses up 39% in Q3 despite fewer incidents

· Logistics · United States · Canada

Cargo theft losses across Canada and the US rose 39% year on year in the third quarter, even as reported incidents fell sharply, according to Verisk CargoNet. The firm recorded 2,072 reported supply chain crime incidents in the quarter. Organized criminal networks are increasingly exploiting identity fraud, carrier impersonation and weaknesses in freight verification to carry out thefts. The pattern points to fewer but larger and more sophisticated heists. Fraudulent pickup schemes and impersonation let thieves secure loads without breaking into them, a method that is harder to detect at the dock and harder to trace after the fact. CargoNet's data puts the trend in front of carriers, brokers and shippers who rely on verification and vetting to protect freight in transit and at rest.

Why it matters：Fraud-based cargo theft that evades dock-level checks raises losses for insurers and shippers, pushing the industry toward stronger carrier verification and digital identity controls across supply chains.

Key points

  • Losses rose 39% year on year in Q3 across Canada and the US.
  • Verisk CargoNet recorded 2,072 reported incidents in the quarter.
  • Identity fraud and carrier impersonation are the main methods cited.

Sources (original reporting)

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