Tell Me Everything
bad guys don't stand a chance
Danielle Spinelli
is
fraud girl
Ep. 1 - Nintendo gone missing
6.20.25
Last week, a truck carrying over 2,800 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles — worth more than $1.4 million — was hit in a targeted theft at a Love’s Truck Stop in Bennett, Colorado. And the moment I read about it, I knew: this could have been avoided. As someone who spent years managing high-risk loads — this story set off every fraud alarm I’ve got hardwired into me. That’s why I covered it in our very first Fraud Girl Friday episode on the Tell Me Everything podcast. Let me be clear: this didn’t need to happen. And it absolutely could’ve been prevented. The Red Flags Were Everywhere 🚩 First, the driver reportedly didn't even know what he was hauling. I'm sorry — what? That’s your first mistake. Drivers must know what’s in their trailer, especially when it’s a high-value commodity. Keeping it from them to "avoid risk" or "save on cost"? That’s not risk mitigation — it’s negligence. Second, why was a load valued at over $1M parked in a public lot, unguarded? If you're moving something this valuable: It should be team driven, no exceptions. It should be tracked in real-time. And it should never — I repeat, never — be sitting still for hours in a truck stop. High Value / High Risk Prep Checklist (Steps 1 & 2) Pre-Load Confirm value of shipment and insurance requirements in writing from the client. Purchase additional insurance coverage as needed. Ensure scheduled pickup/delivery times align with standard transit. Sourcing Carriers Do not post high value freight to public load boards. Carrier must have proper insurance and A+ rating on A.M. Best. Confirm all documentation matches FMCSA records and users have been pre verified through Descartes MyCarrierPortal. Verify commodity is insurable and within carrier’s policy coverage. Here’s What I Would’ve Done Differently: If this was my load, this is the bare minimum: Only book with a vetted, known carrier (ideally, already under contract). No “new MC” setups for freight like this. Run a dual driver team so the truck is never left alone. Offset your posting locations — don’t give thieves a roadmap. Use pallet-level tracking tech, as well as just ELD tracking. The Bigger Picture: Freight Theft Is Organized Crime What we’re seeing in cases like this isn’t just “bad luck.” It’s organized theft. It’s targeted. And it’s getting more sophisticated by the day. That’s exactly why I launched Fraud Girl Friday. Because I’ve lived this stuff. I’ve seen the scams. I’ve stopped them mid-load. And now I want to help others get ahead of it — before another million-dollar shipment disappears off the map. We’re in peak freight theft season — summer, holidays, surging volumes — and I promise you, the thieves are ready. Are you? I’ll be breaking down more real-world cases, tools I trust, and questions you should be asking every Friday on the pod. Because I truly believe that when we share the red flags, the patterns, and the plays — we all get better at protecting what moves this industry. If this episode helped you rethink your approach to high-value loads, share it. Send it to your ops team. Use it as training. That’s how we stop fraud — together. 🛑 Stay alert. 💡 Stay informed. 🎙️ Stay tuned for next Fraud Girl Friday. — Danielle Spinelli
Ep. 2 - hot freight, hotter risks
6.28.25
High-value freight means high-stakes risk — and with the Fourth of July around the corner, cargo thieves are circling. In this Fraud Girl Friday episode, Danielle Spinelli dives into Part 2 of the $1.4M Nintendo Heist, breaking down exactly what makes freight a prime target, and how brokers can lock down their high-risk loads before holiday chaos hits. From seafood to sneakers, electronics to supplements — nothing’s off-limits. We’re talking red flags, real-world heist stories, driver protocols, tracking tips, and vetting checklists to help you stay one step ahead of the bad guys. If you touch high-value freight, you can’t afford to miss this one.
Ep. 3 - Fireworks, Freedom and Freight Fraud
7.4.25
In this special Fourth of July episode, Danielle checks in from Minnesota to talk about why the holiday weekend is prime time for cargo theft. Backed by recent data from CargoNet, she breaks down the top risks, hot zones (California, Texas, Illinois), and why food, beverage, and electronics are major targets during July 1–7. She shares real-world tips for freight brokers, shippers, and carriers to stay ahead of scammers: Track your drivers, trucks, and freight (even pallets!) Avoid unsecured parking—especially at truck stops Verify paperwork and breakdowns—don’t just trust, verify Use phone lookup tools to spot VoIP numbers Stay alert to red flags: too much info, too little, or odd behavior It’s not just fireworks lighting up the holiday—scammers are too. Tune in to stay safe, stay smart, and keep your loads secure.
Ep. 4 - The Power of Visibility in Fraud Detection
7.11.25
In this episode, we explore how real-time visibility is more than just a logistics convenience—it’s a powerful weapon against freight fraud. With the release of FraudGuard 2.0, Descartes MacroPoint is transforming how the industry identifies and neutralizes suspicious activity before it becomes a loss. By leveraging network intelligence, behavioral analysis, and shipment tracking data, Descartes MacroPoint FraudGuard 2.0 delivers proactive alerts that flag high-risk anomalies—giving brokers, shippers, and carriers a critical edge. Key fraud detection features now include: Out of Route Pings Stop Truck Alerts Emulator or Spoofed Device Pings Non-Descartes MacroPoint User Agent Detection VOIP Carrier Use by Driver Distance Jump or Teleportation-Like Pings Multiple Driver Location Overrides in a Row Same IP Address or Uniform MPH Across Pings First-Time Driver or Carrier in Descartes MacroPoint’s Network Historical Spoofing Reports Overbooked Driver or Carrier Flags We’ll break down how these indicators work together to uncover fraud before it causes disruption, and why visibility isn’t just about knowing where a truck is—it’s about knowing who is behind the wheel and what you can trust.
Ep. 5 - RECAP OF THE RELIANCE INSURANCE SUMMIT
7.18.25
Danielle shares key takeaways from the Reliance Partners Insurance Summit in Nashville, diving into the latest freight fraud trends: 🚨 Key Highlights: Fraudsters target carriers 30–60 days before insurance expiration—using “clean” MCs to steal loads fast. Cyber threats are on the rise: phishing, spoofed emails, and hacked documents are making impersonation easier than ever. Red flags to watch: sudden contact changes, spikes in load volume, MC recycling, and strange inspection histories. FMCSA is labeling scam carriers with “Fraudulent Activity” as their address—check those MCs! Contracts matter: use shipper–broker agreements, keep them simple, and include theft clauses. Fraud is faster, smarter, and more digital—stay alert and stay informed. By leveraging network intelligence, behavioral analysis, and shipment tracking data, Descartes MacroPoint FraudGuard 2.0 delivers proactive alerts that flag high-risk anomalies—giving brokers, shippers, and carriers a critical edge. Key fraud detection features now include: Out of Route Pings Stop Truck Alerts Emulator or Spoofed Device Pings Non-Descartes MacroPoint User Agent Detection VOIP Carrier Use by Driver Distance Jump or Teleportation-Like Pings Multiple Driver Location Overrides in a Row Same IP Address or Uniform MPH Across Pings First-Time Driver or Carrier in Descartes MacroPoint’s Network Historical Spoofing Reports Overbooked Driver or Carrier Flags We’ll break down how these indicators work together to uncover fraud before it causes disruption, and why visibility isn’t just about knowing where a truck is—it’s about knowing who is behind the wheel and what you can trust.
Ep. 6 - sierra saves the day!
7.25.25
In this episode, Paul Mishchuk from Ship Sierra shares how his team stopped a $150K cargo theft in progress. A dispatcher flagged a suspicious rate con with odd fonts and inflated pricing. The scammer, posing as a broker, tried to reroute a high-value eggnog liquor load from Maryland to Arizona under the cover of a blind shipment. Paul’s team acted fast: • Verified the real delivery via the BOL • Blocked all scammer communication • Alerted the manufacturer and distributor • Delivered the load to a secure warehouse within 24 hours Paul breaks down common scam tactics—altered documents, spoofed emails, and blind shipment redirections—and shares the new vetting protocols they now use to stay ahead. Key takeaway: Blind shipments + high-value freight = red flags. Always verify, inspect rate cons closely, and don’t hesitate to escalate. Listen in and help protect our industry from fraud. 🚨 Key Highlights: Fraudsters target carriers 30–60 days before insurance expiration—using “clean” MCs to steal loads fast. Cyber threats are on the rise: phishing, spoofed emails, and hacked documents are making impersonation easier than ever. Red flags to watch: sudden contact changes, spikes in load volume, MC recycling, and strange inspection histories. FMCSA is labeling scam carriers with “Fraudulent Activity” as their address—check those MCs! Contracts matter: use shipper–broker agreements, keep them simple, and include theft clauses. Fraud is faster, smarter, and more digital—stay alert and stay informed. By leveraging network intelligence, behavioral analysis, and shipment tracking data, Descartes MacroPoint FraudGuard 2.0 delivers proactive alerts that flag high-risk anomalies—giving brokers, shippers, and carriers a critical edge. Key fraud detection features now include: Out of Route Pings Stop Truck Alerts Emulator or Spoofed Device Pings Non-Descartes MacroPoint User Agent Detection VOIP Carrier Use by Driver Distance Jump or Teleportation-Like Pings Multiple Driver Location Overrides in a Row Same IP Address or Uniform MPH Across Pings First-Time Driver or Carrier in Descartes MacroPoint’s Network Historical Spoofing Reports Overbooked Driver or Carrier Flags We’ll break down how these indicators work together to uncover fraud before it causes disruption, and why visibility isn’t just about knowing where a truck is—it’s about knowing who is behind the wheel and what you can trust.