Freight diversion fraud is a rapidly evolving and systemic threat within European logistics, exploiting technical weaknesses, organizational flaws, and cyber vulnerabilities across subcontracting chains and digital freight platforms. This sophisticated fraud endangers supply chain integrity.
To illustrate the sophistication yet classic scheme of fraud diversion, a case handled in 2025 by CL SURVEYS highlights the intricate modus operandi: a shipment of 60 pallets of cosmetics was diverted through identity fraud. The fraud involved at first the use of a digital freight platform – which is a classic starting point in freight diversion fraud cases. The usurper, after having phished the email account of a well-known carrier, monitored the phished email account waiting for the departure on vacation of the phished employee. At the same time, through email spoofing, a fake domain nearly identical to the legitimate one was established. We were able to retrieve some data in this respect through cyber search. This allowed the carrier usurper to intercept and manipulate transport communications undetected and collect the cargo. The alert was given too late to retrieve the CCTV footage as the spoofed carrier was out of office and thus not able to react.
Thanks to further investigation, it was possible to trace the warehouse where the diverted cargo was unloaded; an abandoned warehouse yet to be identified for suspicious activities by the police.
Although this was not the case for the above-presented freight diversion, usurpers also often use the vulnerability of uncontrolled cascading subcontracting and weaknesses in loading control protocols.
Cyber-logistics fraud leverages fully dematerialized freight exchange platforms. Criminals place fraudulent bids and coordinate with complicit (or not) or impersonated drivers deploying trucks. Execution-phase fraud frequently involves clandestine rerouting to warehouses or transshipment points.
The transition from reactive claims settlement to proactive, technology-centric risk management is essential. Freight diversion now embodies a cyber-enabled, organized fraud type demanding synergy between logistics operators, insurers and cyber defense mechanisms to safeguard supply chains and commercial interests.
