I am sharing information found on the internet concerning a gang that stole 1.7 million dollars from truckers and trucking companies from February 2011 through November 2012, this according to the U.S. Attorney’s office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The gang obtained electronic account information from unsuspecting drivers and office workers, presented them to truck stops through checks from electronic funding processing companies. Once the gang members received the checks, they cashed them at the truck stops. During less than one year this group constantly came up with new ways to steal money from drivers and companies.
At NCI we are careful not to issue funds on weekends and evenings. Sometimes it is inconvenient, but necessary. Our Driver managers, night dispatchers, and weekend dispatchers are trained to be cautious, but thieves develop new strategies daily. Asking for social security numbers, birthdates and other personal information helps our team members know who they are talking to on the phone.
Drivers can help protect their funds by being careful who they talk to and what information they share. In the past we have had calls from would-be robbers who have acquired an NCI driver’s name, his truck and trailer number. They had ascertained where the load was heading or where the load originated from. Thieves would then pretend to be our driver in order to acquire funds for erroneous repairs or charges.
DON”T BE A VICTIM. Know who you are talking to whether in person or on the phone. This gang consisted of both male and female members ranging from ages 24 to 48 years of age. “Criminal enterprises are constantly coming up with new ways to rip off companies, consumers and customers,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “This group tried to turn truck stops into their own personal ATMs. We will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to stamp out these schemes.
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