The freight scams new dispatchers should know include broker impersonation, double brokering, fake load posts, phishing for logins, changed payment details, redirected deliveries, fake carriers, upfront fees and overpayment refunds. Almost all of them rely on two things: pressure to act fast and details that do not quite match.
You do not need to be an expert to stop most of them. You need to know what they look like and to check before you book. Here are the nine to know, how each one works and how to spot it.
Key takeaways
- Most freight scams start with someone pretending to be a company you trust.
- Verify brokers through the FMCSA record, not through the contact details in an email or load post.
- Never share load board, email or bank logins, and confirm any payment change by phone.
- A rate far above the market, plus pressure to book now, is a reason to slow down.
- When something does not match, stop and check before the truck moves.
What are the most common freight scams?
The most common freight scams target a carrier’s freight, its money or its accounts. This table sums up all nine.
| Scam | How it works | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Broker impersonation | A scammer uses a real broker’s name and MC number to book a load | Free email address, a lookalike domain, or a phone number that differs from the FMCSA record |
| 2. Double brokering | A load is secretly passed to another carrier, and the hauling carrier is not paid | Pickup paperwork shows a different broker or carrier name |
| 3. Too-good load posts | A high rate draws you in so you skip your checks | A rate far above the lane, with pressure to book right now |
| 4. Login phishing | A fake email or page asks you to sign in, then takes over the account | Links to sign-in pages you did not ask for, or urgent warnings about your account |
| 5. Payment detail changes | A message asks you to send payments to a new bank account or address | Any request to change where money goes, especially by email |
| 6. Redirected deliveries | The delivery address changes mid-trip so the freight can be stolen | A new address that is not on the rate confirmation and comes from a new contact |
| 7. Fake carriers | Someone uses another company’s authority or identity to haul loads | The name, phone or insurance does not match the FMCSA record |
| 8. Upfront fees | You are asked to pay to get loads, a lane, or a dispatch job | Any request for money before you have earned anything |
| 9. Overpayment refunds | A payment arrives for more than agreed, and you are asked to send back the difference | Extra money plus a quick refund request |
How do impersonation and double brokering scams work?
Impersonation and double brokering scams work by putting a fake company between real ones. They are scams 1, 2 and 7 in the table, and they often appear together.
In broker impersonation, the scammer looks up a real broker, copies its name and MC number, and contacts you from an email address that looks close to the real one. Everything on the FMCSA record checks out, because it belongs to a real company. The giveaway is the contact details. Call the phone number on the FMCSA record and ask for the agent by name.
Double brokering adds a second step. The scammer books a load from a real broker as if they were a carrier, then re-posts it and hands it to your carrier. Your driver hauls it, the scammer collects the payment, and your carrier is left unpaid. The sign is usually at pickup, when the bill of lading or the shipper names a different company than your rate confirmation.
Fake carriers work the same way in reverse. If a new client asks you to dispatch for them, check that their authority, insurance and contact details match the company they say they are.
How do scammers go after logins and payments?
Scammers go after logins and payments by sending messages that look routine, so you act before you think. These are scams 4, 5 and 9.
- Login phishing: an email says your load board or email account needs attention and links to a sign-in page. The page is fake, and whoever runs it now has your password. Go to sites by typing the address yourself, and turn on two-step sign-in where it is offered.
- Payment detail changes: a message from a “broker” or “factoring company” says payments now go to a new account. Never accept a change by email alone. Call the company on a number you already have on file.
- Overpayment refunds: money arrives for more than you agreed, followed by a polite request to send back the extra. The first payment can later be reversed, and the refund you sent is gone.
What do scams look like on a load board?
On a load board, scams usually look like an unusually good load with an unusually urgent contact. These are scams 3, 6 and 8.
Here is a scenario. You see a load paying well above everything else on the lane. You call, and the contact says it must be booked in the next ten minutes, skips the carrier packet, and sends a rate confirmation from a free email address. Halfway through the trip, a new contact emails a different delivery address.
Every one of those details is a warning sign on its own. Together, they describe a load you should not book. A real broker can wait five minutes while you check its authority and call the number on its FMCSA record, and a real delivery change comes from the same contact and is confirmed in writing.
Upfront fees often show up here too: a “dedicated lane” or “guaranteed loads” in return for a payment first. A real broker pays the carrier for hauling, so being asked to pay first just to get access to loads is a warning sign.
The best way to get faster at this is practice. Our free Spot the Scam game shows you five load posts, and you decide which ones are real and which are fraud before you book.
How can a dispatcher protect a carrier from freight scams?
A dispatcher protects a carrier by checking every new broker, confirming changes by phone and never rushing. Build these habits:
- Run a broker check on every new broker. Our free Broker Check tool lists six checks that take about five minutes.
- Call brokers on the phone number listed on the FMCSA record, not the one in the email.
- Compare the rate confirmation, the bill of lading and every email for the same company name and MC number.
- Confirm any change to the delivery address or payment details by phone, then get it in writing.
- Keep logins private, and use two-step sign-in where you can.
- Agree with your carrier on what you will do when something looks wrong, so no one feels pressured to keep going.
Our post on why most truck dispatchers fail covers other common mistakes new dispatchers can avoid.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you believe you have been the target of fraud, report it to FMCSA and ask a transportation attorney about your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important habit for avoiding freight scams?
Verify the broker through the FMCSA record and call the number listed there. Most scams fall apart once you contact the real company directly.
Are scammers only on load boards?
No. Scams also arrive by email, text and phone, and some come from people posing as carriers or factoring companies.
What should I do if I already booked a suspicious load?
Tell the carrier, stop the driver from loading if you still can, and confirm the load with the real broker on the FMCSA phone number. Save every message.
Learn to book loads safely
Dispatcher 101 covers brokers in the Parties Involved section and the steps of booking a load in Booking Your First Load. Students on both plans can ask Joe Piazza about a suspicious load through 1-on-1 mentorship, and the Gold plan adds the agreements, scripts and templates, 12 months of load board access and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
