Carriers Battle Card Fraud

At least five major trucking companies may have been victimized in a scam involving fraudulent cash advances and check cashing in which criminals have targeted users of Comdata Comchek electronic cards.

Doug Gilmer, director of corporate security for Cardinal Logistics and Cardinal Freight Carriers in Concord, N.C., said the five carriers have “lost over $10,000 in just the past couple of months.”

Larry Capp, senior investigator with Swift Transportation in Phoenix, confirmed that his company had suffered losses associated with Comdata cards.

Comdata, Brentwood, Tenn., provides cash advance and fuel cards as well as other services to trucking fleets. Comchek cards give drivers access to fuel, cash and information management transactions.

An employee at Schneider National, Green Bay, Wis., acknowledged that the company was having problems with fraudulent cash advances. Two other companies also thought to be victims denied knowledge of a scam or chose not to comment.

Gilmer said the “bandits claim to be drivers or driver supervisors. The thieves either call the trucking company to get money or go straight to Comdata, he said. Among the information thieves need to get money are personal identification numbers, company code numbers and driver names and locations.

Typically, the bandits request a cash advance of between $200 and $265 for truck towing or repairs, or as bail money.