Identity fraud attempts in the US cargo and logistics sector have surged dramatically over the past two years, according to the ‘2026 Cargo and Logistics ID Fraud Report’ from IDScan.net.
Based on more than one million identity verification transactions across processing, manufacturing, transport and warehousing operations, the report found that fraud attempts rose from 0.53% in 2023 to 1.66% in 2024, and 2.15% in 2025.
Additionally, it recorded the highest quarterly fraud rate on record in the second quarter of 2025, with attempts running 75% above the historical average.
The AI-powered identity verification platform cited economic strain, labour shortages and rising freight volumes as creating ideal conditions for organised cargo crime. Additionally, it points to reliance on temporary workers leaving gaps in vetting and oversight and inventory movement through an already stretched network multiplying soft targets that exist across warehouses and transit routes.
“With cargo theft still lacking a unified federal tracking framework, fragmented reporting and limited centralised oversight allow sophisticated crime rings to operate across state lines with minimal visibility and reduced risk of detection,” IDScan said.
READ about the US cargo crime epidemic in our February issue
Its report identifies clear patterns in fraud attempts, noting that fake IDs were five times more likely to present as male, with an average age of 46.
The states most frequently appearing on fraudulent IDs were California, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, Washington and Pennsylvania. Metro areas with the highest rates of ID fraud attempts included Los Angeles, Memphis, Dallas–Fort Worth, Toronto, Seattle–Tacoma, Denver, Phoenix and New York City.
“With cargo theft and supply chain disruption already costing the industry billions, identity fraud is becoming a critical vulnerability at facility entry points,” said Jimmy Roussel, CEO of IDScan.net. “As fraudsters become more organised and opportunistic, particularly during seasonal hiring peaks and high-volume shipping periods, logistics operators must strengthen identity verification processes to protect assets, staff, and customers.”
The report warns that increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes are targeting high-traffic hubs and periods of operational surge, leaving facilities with weak or inconsistent identity screening exposed to theft, cargo diversion and broader operational disruption.
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