Fake Freight Forwarder Scams: Why Working Tracking Doesn't Mean Real Shipment

You paid for your shipment. The tracking number works. The website shows "in transit." Then an email arrives asking for more money—and the tracking page confirms the story.

This is how modern freight forwarding scams work. The tracking is real. The shipment isn't.

How do fake freight forwarder scams work?

Scammers create complete digital facades that mimic legitimate logistics companies. They register similar domain names, copy branding, and build functional tracking pages that display whatever status supports their story. When you enter the tracking number, it returns "in transit" or "held at customs"—because the scammers control what the page shows.

According to Truckstop.com, double brokering complaints have increased 400% since 2022. A Cloudflare survey found that Fortune 500 companies report up to 10 impersonation incidents per month. The Transportation Intermediaries Association reports freight fraud rose 27% in 2024 alone.

These aren't random phishing emails. They're coordinated operations designed to extract multiple payments from a single victim.

What happened in a real case?

According to KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), a Korean company found a US chemical supplier through an online marketplace. The price was competitive. They agreed on CIF terms—meaning shipping costs were included in the quoted price.

The buyer wired $7,000. Days later, a logistics company emailed: "Your cargo is transshipping through Turkey. It's been flagged as a high-risk chemical. Pay €4,000 for certification to clear customs."

The buyer checked the tracking number on the logistics company's website. The status matched the email exactly: "Held at Turkish customs. Certification pending."

It looked legitimate. It wasn't.

KOTRA's investigation confirmed:

• The logistics company was impersonating a real freight forwarder

• The website was a fake built specifically for this scam

• The US supplier was likely part of the same fraud operation

• The €4,000 request was a second extraction attempt

The initial $7,000 was lost. But KOTRA's intervention blocked the second payment.

Why does this scam work so well?

The scam exploits a reasonable assumption: if tracking works, the shipment exists. Most people don't consider that scammers can build fake tracking pages that return fabricated data.

It also exploits the complexity of international shipping. Terms like "transshipment," "high-risk classification," and "customs certification" sound plausible to anyone unfamiliar with how freight actually moves.

Under CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) terms, the seller is responsible for shipping costs to the destination port. The buyer shouldn't receive separate freight invoices after paying the agreed price. Any mid-shipment fee request under CIF is a red flag.

What are the warning signs of a fake logistics company?

Several patterns appear consistently in freight forwarding scams:

• Tracking only works on one website — Legitimate carriers use standardized tracking systems that work across multiple platforms

• Mid-shipment fee requests under CIF — If shipping is included, you shouldn't pay extra

• Supplier redirects you to logistics company for payment — They're likely the same operation

• Unexpected transshipment countries — "Your cargo is routing through [country]" when that wasn't in the original plan

• Recently registered domain — Scam websites often have domains registered within the past few months

• Urgency + specific payment method — "Pay within 48 hours by wire transfer"

How do you verify a logistics company before paying?

Verify independently before sending any additional payment. Don't use contact information from the suspicious email—find it yourself.

• Search separately — Open a new browser and search for the company name. Compare the website URL

• Check domain age — Use WHOIS lookup to see when the domain was registered. Scam sites are usually weeks or months old

• Call the official number — Find the phone number through an independent search, not from the email

• Verify with trade agencies — Organizations like KOTRA, US Commercial Service, or local trade associations can help confirm legitimacy

• Review your Incoterms — If you're buying CIF, the seller already paid for shipping. Additional freight requests should go back to them

According to Truckstop's 2025 review, more than 10,000 identity checks failed during carrier onboarding. Many of these cases began with small details that didn't match—a phone number that couldn't be verified, authority information that seemed off.

Quick reference: Fraud prevention checklist

• Verify supplier through official business registries before payment

• Request VAT number or business registration and cross-check independently

• Under CIF terms, reject any mid-shipment fee requests from third parties

• Check domain registration date for any logistics company website

• Verify tracking through carrier's official website, not links from emails

• If tracking only works on one site, treat it as suspicious

• Contact trade promotion agencies (KOTRA, US Commercial Service) to verify companies

• Document all communications for potential fraud reporting

Working tracking doesn't guarantee a real shipment. A professional-looking website doesn't guarantee a real company. In international trade, independent verification isn't optional.