Avoiding Modern Scams in Shipping and Freight

In the world we live in today, PDF is probably the most common document format we receive with invoices, delivery notices, manifests, and other important details. Unfortunately, con artists and hackers have created documents that contain malicious code or links to websites that aim to steal data.

1. Make sure you know the sender, and don’t open the document unless you were expecting it.
2. If you are unsure of the sender, just go to Google and search some key elements from the email like email address, phone number, names and business name and see if you can match them to the company website.
3. Google the company that sent you the email and get their phone number from their site. Call them and make sure the document is valid
4. If you suspect you opened a document that was a fake or fraud, run your antivirus software immediately.

5. Keep your operating system up to date. Look for Windows, Mac, and phone updates and keep the updates running.
6. Restart your computer at least once a week to ensure the updates get installed. This also clears some local saved files that can be read by hackers.

Software is expensive in many cases and there are a lot of tools that promote being free to help you with your day to day business. Unfortunately, there are many malicious free applications on the internet that look to lock you out or steal your data.

1. Make sure you only download software from reputable sources. The Google Play Store, Apple Store, and CNET are good places to find software.
2. Make sure to read the reviews. In 2019, a common application used in the logistics industry, CamScanner. This software was used to convert images and files to PDF so carriers could transmit important details digitally. It was found the software contained malware and was stealing information from users. This has since been fixed, however, new malware issues are found in freeware on a regular basis. Cam Scanner Hack
3. Use company specific options. At Toggle, our application has built in options to help manage documents that are required for the shipment. This helps ensure that you don’t need additional software to complete the documentation for the trip.

• Beware of new scams coming through text and phone calls. Scammers can “spoof” or duplicate a phone number from one of your known vendors. They then start asking questions to get you to give out sensitive information.
• Remember, no one should ask you for your passwords or two factor codes (text message with a login code).
• If you suspect that the call isn’t right, hang up, call the company directly and verify the details being requested.

• In September of last year, Toggle wrote a quick guide to validating loads – Validating Loads. These rules still stand as some basics in the industry to validate load information.
• Many times over, fraudsters post fake loads or steal passwords and post loads for other companies on load boards. Always make sure you validate some of the details about a company if you haven’t worked with them before.
• Quick checks to make sure the company is using proper domains like DriveToggle.com and not Gmail, Hotmail, or other free domains is the first check.
• Search the company on Google and verify the email address and physical address to make sure you aren’t being asked to call some other random phone number.
• Contact the company directly based on their website contact information and ask for the details about the load.

The final piece of the puzzle to avoid issues are your passwords. Once a fraudster figures out your password, there is obviously many implications of damage they can do.
• Make sure not to use the same password on many websites. Some sites get hacked and hackers will figure out the password you used on that site. They then attempt to use that password on other sites you might use.
• Use password managers to create complex passwords. Tools like NordPass, LastPass, and others are great for creating and tracking your passwords. They offer mobile applications so you can use this on your phone and browser integrations to allow for quick sign-in.
• Don’t store your passwords in the browser. Passwords stored in the browser have become a major “honeypot” for hackers. If someone is able to steal data from your computer through some of the scams listed above, they can steal the encrypted browser files and hack them on their free time.