$200K Cargo Theft Shows How Freight Fraud Is Changing

A recent Freight Waves report details a sophisticated $200,000 theft targeting Galleria Tile, a San Francisco-based showroom. Scammers successfully impersonated purchasing managers from the infrastructure firm AECOM, utilizing forged documents and professional-grade social engineering to secure two high-value shipments on Net-30 terms. No payment ever arrived.

This incident underscores a massive shift in criminal tactics: cargo theft is moving from physical hijackings to digital fraud. By leveraging AI tools and stolen identities, theft rings are increasingly targeting building materials and electronics. In fact, U.S. cargo theft spiked 29% in Q3 2025 alone. For SMBs, this serves as a critical warning to modernize security protocols—specifically by verifying buyers, confirming shipping partners, and requiring deposits for all new high-value accounts.