Highway thieves are spoofing GPS to steal millions in data center-bound cargo
Investigators explain how highway thieves stole $100M in data center equipment.
Highway thieves are employing advanced digital methods that have raised concerns among investigators, making it easier to steal valuable cargo from trucks bound for data centers. According to interviews with "several industry leaders, consultants, and investigators advising law enforcement," since June, thieves have stolen over $100 million worth of data center freight.
The modus operandi involves several steps. Firstly, thieves infiltrate freight brokers' accounts on shipment-listing websites and post phony shipments to lure genuine bids, then dispatch a malicious link to any trucking companies that respond. Upon receiving a response, victims click on the link, allowing thieves to install software that takes control of their accounts and enables them to start bidding on real shipments.
There are two scenarios in which this scam is executed. Sometimes, a genuine delivery driver is hired to pick up the cargo without realizing the deception, while in other instances, fake driver's licenses are presented to enlist accomplices. Regardless of the approach, the goods eventually reach a driver working alongside the thieves, who resell the equipment.
In one of the most significant thefts, thieves even manipulated tracking coordinates to bypass digital monitoring systems.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
