Scammers, Hackers, and Malware

Expanding technology has swept across every industry in the world and especially in regards to the transportation industry, it can be a great thing. With everything from helping track hours of service to helping manage the your business and setting up geofencing for fleet transparency, there are a lot of benefits that come with new technology after you get familiar with it. That being said, with new technology comes new ways for people to try and scam you, hack into your business accounts, and take your hard earned money from you. This is becoming an increasingly important issue with the recent emphasis in implementing new technology into the transportation industry. Scammers and hackers know that there is a lot of money in this industry and will try to find ways to gain access into your information and accounts to use against you and take money that is rightfully yours. This has even been exemplified with some larger third party logistic companies and brokerages this year. Recent examples include malware attacks on both the Keep Trucking load board and TQL. Both companies are massive and both were infiltrated by hackers using malware attacks to gain access into their users' financial information. With massive companies like that having issues, it is likely that many other smaller owner operators either already are being attacked or will be soon. Some of the main things to look out for:

1: FMCSA/DOT scam demand letters: starting in 2019, a group of scammers started mailing out falsified letters with a fake FMCSA or DOT letterhead stating that there are further documents for compliance needed to keep company's authorities active. Before ever responding to a letter like this or paying out something that they are requesting, be cautious. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Call up the FMCSA or DOT directly to confirm if the letter and requested documentation and payment are legitimate.

2. Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are currently the most prevalent type of malware that hackers and scammers are using to unlawfully gain access into your financial information. Per Google "Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a weapon. The goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is something they want or need — a request from their bank, for instance, or a note from someone in their company — and to click a link or download an attachment." This is a major problem to be cautious and aware of. It is so easy to see an email with a link attached and just click on the link without doing any digging and looking into who actually sent the email. It is very important that before clicking and opening up any links through email that you verify that it was sent from a legitimate source. Once hackers gain access to your financial information, often times they will hold that information over your head until you give them something they want, aka, your hard earned money. Don't open you or your business up to potential hackers and scammers, always verify who sent you the link and what it is!

3. Staying secure while mobile: Our phones, tablets, and laptops outnumber people in the world, and these connected devices provide hackers and scammers a huge target no matter where we are or what we are doing. Here are some things that can help you stay secure while on the go:
- Turn off bluetooth and wifi when not in use. Try not to connect to public networks without a VPN, a virtual private network, which encrypts your connection and protects your information.
- Lock it up, both in the physical and cyber domains: device theft is a major concern in public places, so deter thieves by personalizing your devices with unique identifies like cases. Keep your devices in your possession at all times. Also, protect them with strong passwords and lock screens.

 

Ransomware hackers may come for owner-operators next - FreightWaves

Not even a few days later and Freightwaves is basically saying the same thing! Prevention and awareness are key. Be proactive, not reactive