FREE CARRIER GUIDANCE
Freight broker scams: verify before you commit
A real company’s MC number can be copied by someone who has no authority to act for it. Check the person and transaction as well as the company record.
Published and source-checked October 10, 2026 • Freight Broker Complaint • Educational guidance
Identity theft, diverted payments and handing freight to an unauthorized party.
Check contact details independently
FMCSA recommends checking company telephone information through SAFER and confirming questionable documents. Contact the company through an independently verified channel, rather than relying on a number supplied in the suspicious message.
Pause unexplained changes
Treat a last-minute bank change, different pickup identity, unexpected destination or pressure to skip verification as a reason to investigate. An indicator is not proof of a scam.
- Compare the email domain character by character.
- Confirm who authorized a change and through which verified channel.
- Check that the contracted company matches pickup instructions.
- Save messages, timestamps, documents and the actual URLs without opening suspicious links.
- Ask a second authorized person to review unusual payment or routing instructions.
If freight or money is already at risk
Preserve records and coordinate with verified contractual parties. FMCSA’s fraud guidance lists reporting options including NCCDB, DOT OIG, law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. For immediate danger, contact emergency services. Decide which route fits your facts; this website files nothing on your behalf.
Protect the real company too
The company being impersonated may also be a victim. Avoid publishing accusations based only on a copied identifier or suspicious message. Record the difference between the verified company and the person claiming to represent it.
Sources and scope
Official references checked for this guide. Confirm current instructions at the destination before acting. This is general education, not legal advice or an investigation finding.
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