U.S. data center cargo thefts rise as criminals spoof GPS and target $100 million in freight

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U.S. data center cargo thefts

Highlights

Criminals have stolen more than $100 million in data center freight since June using account takeovers, fake shipments, and GPS spoofing.
Cargos targeted include servers, copper wire, and bitcoin mining machines, with single thefts as large as $13 million in server gear and $1 million in power equipment.
Weak driver vetting and vulnerabilities in app-based cargo monitoring have enabled large-scale thefts, prompting calls for tighter shipment security as AI infrastructure grows.

Digital theft methods reshape cargo risks

As first reported by Ars Technica, citing NBC News, investigators advising law enforcement say thieves have stolen more than $100 million in data center freight since June by combining account takeovers, fake shipping offers, and manipulated tracking tools.

The scheme typically begins with attacks on freight brokers' accounts on shipment-listing platforms. Thieves post fake shipments to attract bids from legitimate trucking companies, then send malicious links that can give them control of victims' accounts. From there, they bid on real shipments, arrange pickup through unwitting drivers or accomplices using fake driver's licenses, and later transfer the cargo for resale.

Equipment being targeted includes servers, fiber-optic cables, computer memory chips, copper wire, and bitcoin mining machines. In one Illinois case, the Cook County Sheriff's Office estimated two stolen loads included about $300,000 in copper wire spools and roughly $1 million in custom-made modular power equipment for data centers.

Authorities and security specialists say the methods mark a shift from more opportunistic cargo thefts. Sgt. David Pantoja of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says cargo thieves are infiltrating email accounts, misdirecting shipments, disrupting GPS monitoring, and using AI-generated fake identification to place accomplices inside delivery chains.

Supply chain pressure spreads beyond AI operators

Some of the largest cases involve direct attacks on escorted loads carrying server equipment. A trailer with several hundred pounds of computer server gear valued at $13 million and headed to Fayetteville, Georgia disappeared after an unmarked sedan struck the escorts' vehicle, forcing the officers to stop while the trailer continued on.

A similar incident affected a California shipment bound for Texas with server rack components estimated at about $10 million. In that case, investigators found that app-based cargo monitoring did not stop the theft because the tracking coordinates were apparently spoofed, highlighting a growing vulnerability in digital oversight systems.

Industry experts say stolen data center equipment is often broken into parts and sold through gray markets rather than open online channels. Investigators add that overseas buyers may already be lined up before a theft occurs, especially in markets where access to advanced U.S. technology is constrained.

Security groups and escort providers say freight companies may need tighter background checks and stronger shipment controls as AI-related infrastructure spending expands. Scott Cornell of TAPA Americas says weak driver vetting is a key enabler, while Solutions Group International says it is already escorting hundreds of loads per month, much of them tied to data centers.

In our earlier article on the U.S. AI data center buildout, we explained how soaring financing costs, construction delays, and power constraints are making many planned projects less credible and harder to deliver on schedule. We also noted that weakening investor confidence and cost overruns are increasing pressure on developers to prove they can turn massive capital commitments into workable, profitable infrastructure.

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