Expert Insights: Don’t leave your carrier a victim of identity theft
I received a letter in the mail this week notifying me that I am one of millions affected by a recent security breach of medical records. Sadly, this isn’t my first run-in with hackers.
But did you know that identity theft isn’t limited to individuals? Businesses can be victims, too. And that includes motor carriers. Cybercriminals are looking to steal sensitive company information. Criminals use this information to take out loans, credit cards, or lines of credit — or even try to send out invoices to your customers!
Doing their best impersonation
It would be naïve to think that motor carriers are rarely targeted by cyber criminals. In fact, it’s so common that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has a webpage devoted to fraud alerts (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/fraud-alerts). Most entries are of FMCSA impersonations.
Most recently, the FMCSA sounded the alarm on a “Fake Action Required Notice” that masqueraded as the agency. This scammer claims the carrier is subject to a safety audit and provides a link to upload required documents. If someone acted on the request, they would have provided sensitive corporate information along with their drivers’ personal information and data on equipment.
How to protect your carrier
If you’re contacted by what appears to be FMCSA, your best bet is to always confirm by reaching out to the FMCSA through a known phone number or email address. Don’t trust the contact information provided in the correspondence.
Next, practice the same cyber security for any unsolicited email including those appearing to be from FMCSA. Don’t click on links, provide files, or download attachments — and always verify. Lastly, when targeted by one of these DOT scams, report it to FMCSA.