AI infrastructure boom driving surge in cargo theft

Cargo theft in Canada and the U.S. surged 60 per cent last year to nearly US$725 million — over $1 billion Canadian — as organized theft rings zeroed in on shipments feeding the AI infrastructure boom, according to a report from CargoNet.

Many more thefts likely went unreported because companies fear reputational damage or higher insurance premiums. The average theft value rose 36 per cent, driven by more selective, high-value targeting. Theft of metals climbed 77 per cent, largely fuelled by demand for copper products used in AI data centre cables, wiring, and cooling systems.

The price of a 25-tonne copper load has risen roughly a third over five years to more than US$300,000. Computing hardware and cryptocurrency mining equipment have also emerged as top-tier targets.

Criminals are deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics. They use generative AI to automate phishing emails at scale, gaining access to transport company data and employee credentials. Once inside a system, they identify when and where pricey shipments are scheduled. Thieves then pose as legitimate carriers — sometimes using false digital IDs gleaned via malware — and offer low rates to transport lucrative loads.

One scam, known as double brokering, sees thieves pose as above-board shippers and subcontract the initial theft to truckers who remain unaware they're stealing. Everything looks legitimate: purchase orders, invoicing, manifests. Companies are losing goods right out of their dock doors.

Keith Lewis, head of operations at Verisk CargoNet, said the strategy has evolved dramatically. "The bad guys are good at marketing," he said. "It's so much more strategic now, so much more targeted. They know what's hot and they know what's selling."

The sophistication marks a shift from earlier smash-and-grab tactics. Malefactors now weaponize AI to identify targets and manufacture credibility, turning the technology that enabled the boom into a tool for stealing from it.