Fictitious Pickup Cargo Theft of Lobster Meat

**Cyber-Enabled Cargo Theft: $400K Lobster Shipment Stolen in Massachusetts Fictitious Pickup Scam** On December 12, a $400,000 shipment of lobster meat bound for Midwest Costco stores was stolen from a Massachusetts cold storage facility in Taunton. The theft, investigated by the FBI and local police, appears to be a *fictitious pickup*—a cyber-enabled cargo theft tactic where criminals use stolen data to forge shipping documents and impersonate legitimate truck drivers. Dylan Rexing, CEO of Indiana-based freight broker Rexing Companies, revealed that the thief posed as a driver for the contracted carrier, using fake paperwork and a fraudulent commercial driver’s license. Rexing emphasized that such scams are rampant, occurring "multiple times a day" across industries, with victims ranging from small businesses to large corporations. He noted that just 10 days prior, a similar theft of crab meat had occurred at the same facility. According to the Department of Homeland Security, organized retail crime—including cargo theft—costs U.S. consumers over $500 per family annually. Rexing criticized the perception of these crimes as "white-collar" offenses, arguing that the financial burden ultimately falls on consumers. While liability remains unresolved, Rexing acknowledged his firm may bear significant losses and has engaged legal and insurance representatives. The incident underscores the growing threat of cyber-enabled cargo theft, with Rexing advocating for stronger legislation and law enforcement resources to combat the issue. His attorney reported nine similar thefts totaling over $250,000 in the week preceding the lobster heist, highlighting the scale of the problem.