In June 2025, there was a 135% spike in suspicious MC ownership changes connected to cargo theft reports, signaling that this vector is accelerating.
These aren’t new MCs popping up overnight, they’re carriers with years of clean history, active insurance, and established broker relationships. On paper, they look trustworthy. In reality, they may have been sold to bad actors using that credibility to steal freight. That’s why spotting the red flags early is critical to protecting your organization from this growing fraud vector.
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The Problem: Trust Is Resold
Sold MCs are one of the most deceptive freight fraud tactics. Often, the original owner believes they’re selling to a legitimate buyer. But once the MC changes hands, fraudsters move fast to take over its identity and relationships.
Fraudsters are becoming more targeted and calculated. They’re not just attacking—they’re observing. They look for gaps across communication channels and wait for the right moment to strike. They monitor patterns, track where loads are posted, and exploit timing to slip in undetected.
Red Flags to Watch
Sold MCs are a silent threat. Because the MC appears compliant, brokers often miss the warning signs of ownership changes.
These bad actors are not just buying an MC. They’re buying the entire identity: the phone number, email address, business bank account, and even a copy of the previous owner’s CDL. With those credentials in hand, fraudsters can impersonate the original carrier and operate undetected—often for weeks—before the first red flag is ever raised.
In one case, eight cargo theft claims had to be filed before the insurance provider contacted the original MC owner—who had no idea his identity was still being used.
Here are some common red flags to watch out for:
- A dormant carrier suddenly reactivates after 2–6 months
- Insurance updates to a new producer or VIN doesn’t match
- Contact information changes but doesn’t align with prior data
- Logins from unfamiliar locations or IP addresses
- Sudden urgency around payment or dispatch changes
Highway’s Identity-First Defense
Surface-level checks like insurance, safety score, or authority status aren’t enough to catch a Sold MC. The only way to detect ownership changes or unauthorized control is to verify the person behind the login—not just the company name on paper.
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Highway helps brokers go deeper by monitoring identity signals, communication behavior, and load-level compliance. We look beyond surface-level data, verifying the ownership, authority, and authentication of every motor carrier. This confirms the person representing the MC is legitimately who they say they are and are authorized to act on the carrier’s behalf.
If a new user tries to claim an MC that’s already been verified, Highway:
- Pauses access immediately
- Initiates a validation check before allowing any activity
By putting identity verification first, brokers gain confidence and peace of mind knowing every carrier in their network has been vetted and confirmed, beyond just their MC number.
For more details on the top fraud vectors in 2025, download Highway’s Q2 Freight Fraud Index Report here.
