Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/560501
SIMPLE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES "MUCH LIKE ONLINE DATING SERVICES, SCAMMERS WILL TRAWL THE INTERNET FOR EASY TARGETS TO VICTIMIZE BY PROVIDING FALSE AND MISLEADING INFORMATION." "OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES INTERNET TECHNOLOGY HAS PERPETUATED A CULTURE OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION." FRAUD & SCAMS "" BY SONNY SMITH, DIRECTOR OF ASSURANCE SERVICES SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF FRAUD OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION." OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION." A common comparison frequently used to illustrate Truckstop.com's core service oerings, is the online dating service analogy. Both services rely heavily on users to provide specic and valid information in order to achieve a good match. But there is a growing concern in the increased volume of fraudulent activity being executed by unscrupulous individuals who propagate ctitious information for their own nancial gain and without concern for the harm they cause others. Much like online dating services, scammers will trawl the internet for easy targets to victimize by providing false and misleading information. ese scammers are out to make a quick buck. Most oen they have met the requirements necessary to become a carrier or a broker, but they are not above barrowing or stealing another company's identity as part of their scam. In doing so, they position themselves to be able to conduct a myriad of fraudulent activities with the goal of lining their pockets with your hard-earned money. Posing as legitimate brokers and carriers, scammers will nd loads and repost them as their own, or as another company whose identity they have barrowed or stolen. e loads are posted at higher pay rates to entice carriers. Once the unsuspecting carrier is loaded, the scammer will take a cash advance and is most oen never seen or heard from again. Legitimate carriers then deliver loads that they may never be paid for hauling or where their nal settlements are less the advance amount taken by the scammer. Similarly, there are individuals who trawl internet dating service networks searching for easy targets. ey create and provide false and misleading information to distribute to potential victims for a match. Fortunately, the vast majority of carriers and brokers are operated by legitimate individuals that consistently demonstrate ethical business practices by operating within acceptable industry standards. ey are industry professionals that work hard each day to make an honest living. To further protect ourselves and the industry, we should always keep in mind that while technology has made many processes easier and more accessible, we must continue to be heedful in vetting those we choose to do business with. Over the last two decades internet technology has perpetuated a culture of instant gratication. While this is not inherently a negative thing, it is imperative that we are sure the individuals we contract with are who they say they are. ere are a number of eective precautionary measures we can take to avoid being victimized. One example is to take a simple photo of the MC and DOT numbers on the truck being loaded. is photo can be kept for your own records and can also be sent to the broker to conrm the actual truck that was loaded. e MC and DOT numbers can then be checked against the paperwork for that load as verication. Simple measures can pay huge dividends for your company and clients and stop scammers in their tracks! 10 IT MAGAZINE Vo l . 9 , N o . 5