FBI says hackers are making millions from stolen cargo - losses 'surged' to nearly $725 million in 2025

Date:
Fri, 01 May 2026 15:25:00 +0000

Cybercriminals are infiltrating digital shipping supply chains to reroute cargo and use it to fund other crimes.

With incidents rising 18% in 2025 and the average value per theft up around 36% (to $273,990) due to criminals targeting high-value goods, losses in the US and Canada alone hit around $725 million over the year, a significant 60% year-over-year increase. As for the nature of the attacks, it demonstrates
the merging of digital and physical as attackers combine cyber and fraud techniques in what the FBI calls "cyber-enabled strategic cargo thefts."

Hybrid attacks -- The warning reveals that
attackers exploit human vulnerability to gain first access to company systems
phishing emails and fake login pages get launched to steal credentials
before hackers install remote access tools to move laterally within an organization.

Once inside, they post fake shipment listings, impersonate legitimate logistics firms to accept real shipments, and reroute goods to criminals or complicit drivers.

But cargo theft isn't the primary goal for cybercriminals for many, it's a tool used to fund other crimes like drug trafficking or money laundering. As for the targets within the logistics sector, shipping, freight brokerage, delivery and insurance firms are all at risk.

In terms of the impacts on a victim, many don't even realize they've been attacked until their shipments go missing, with the digitalization of supply chains ultimately responsible for creating new attack surfaces.

To better protect themselves against this growing threat, companies are being warned to verify all shipment requests to ensure that the emails are legitimate. Basic cybersecurity principles also apply, including protecting accounts with multi-factor authentication.

Maintaining records of drivers, vehicles and shipments is also a good idea
not just for auditing purposes, but also to help the FBI track criminals in the event that things go south.

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/fbi-says-hackers-are-making-millions-fr om-stolen-cargo-losses-surged-to-nearly-usd725-million-in-2025

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* Origin: Capitol City Hub (1:2320/105)