How to avoid being defrauded by a fake shipping agent.

How to avoid being defrauded by a fake shipping agent.

I have been asked this question on numerous occasions by multiple parties so I will start a series of articles outlining some of the modern attacks and best ways to avoid them.

There is a steady rise in the volume and sophistication of hacking attempts targeting US businesses. One new attempt is an attempt of a hacker to target businesses that need to move freight. I have removed enough information to conceal the sender but to show that the email contains enough valid information from what appears to be a registered shipping agent but is not.

This scam can take several forms including where the shipping agent details are for a genuine agent but the most common versions are where the email address is either spoofed, the email has been hacked, a phone has been stolen, a disgruntled employee sells login credentials or the email was purchased and used for nefarious purposes.

There are some noticeable traits of these emails.

1.??????The company will promise a good price and they have container space available

2.??????They appear to have valid contact details and credentials

3.??????The preferred contact method will be by WECHAT or QQ.

For this type of attack, your best defense is not to reply to this type of email. If you really want a new freight agent and are considering this offer then should do extensive research on this supposed prospective agent.