Cargo thieves are hijacking real carriers’ MC numbers

Posted October 26, 2026

Most freight fraud stories involve a brand-new fake carrier. This one is different. Federal prosecutors say a theft ring took over real, established trucking companies and used their clean history to get loads.

What happened. On October 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced charges against Nursulton Khaydarov, 33. A federal grand jury in New Haven indicted him on September 22, 2026 on one conspiracy charge, which carries up to 5 years in prison. He was arrested June 1, 2026 on a criminal complaint, has been held since, and pleaded not guilty on October 21 in federal court in Bridgeport. These are allegations, and he is presumed innocent.

How the scheme allegedly worked:

• Bought or took over real carriers: since about September 2025, he and others allegedly gained control of several motor carriers, including their USDOT and MC numbers, business email accounts and the owners’ identities.
• Posed as the old owners: they allegedly used that trust to book loads through freight brokers. A driver picked up each load, and it never arrived.
• Scale: at least 24 loads worth more than $12 million in estimated retail value, including hard drives, electronics, clothing, food and nicotine products.
• Ransom and fake IDs: co-conspirators allegedly demanded ransom at times to return loads, and he allegedly carried fake driver’s licenses in five other names.

The FBI’s New Haven office led the case with the DOT Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and local police.

What it means for small carriers. A clean safety record and years of authority are exactly what brokers look for, and that makes an established carrier’s identity valuable to thieves. Your DOT and MC numbers, your FMCSA/Motus login and your company email can be used to book freight in your name.

What to do:

• Never sell, rent or lend your DOT/MC number, logins or company email to anyone.
• Turn on two-step login for company email and your Motus/FMCSA account, and change passwords if anyone else ever had them.
• Check your FMCSA registration details now and then, so you would spot a change you did not make.
• Selling or closing a company? Update FMCSA records and shut down the old email.
• Report it right away if a broker contacts you about a load you never booked.

Plain-English summary for general information, not legal advice. Check the source before acting.