GPS Spoofing Theft of Data Center Cargo Tops $100 Million

Highway thieves have stolen more than $100 million in data center freight since June, according to industry leaders and investigators advising law enforcement. The cargo includes servers, fiber-optic cables, computer memory chips, copper wires, and bitcoin mining machines. The thefts represent one of the largest waves of cargo robbery targeting the technology sector to date.

The operation begins when criminals hack accounts on shipment-listing websites. They post fake shipments to attract bids from real trucking companies. When a company responds, the thieves send a malicious link. Once a victim clicks the link, the thieves install software that grants them control of the account. They then use that access to bid on genuine shipments. In some cases, a real delivery driver is hired without knowing the shipment is part of a scam. In others, fake driver’s licenses are used to hire accomplices who work directly with the thieves.

The stolen goods are eventually transferred to a driver working with the criminals for resale. In one of the largest incidents, tracking coordinates were spoofed to prevent digital monitoring from detecting the diversion. Investigators report that this digital tactic makes it easier to rob trucks carrying expensive equipment because the cargo appears to be moving along its intended route.

The thefts are not limited to dedicated data center trucks. Two stolen freights found in Illinois contained $300,000 worth of copper wire spools and approximately $1 million in custom-made data center modular power solutions equipment, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. In a separate case, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department recovered data center cooling equipment bound for Deepcool AI. That shipment also contained nicotine pouches, televisions, shoes, printers, speakers, and skin care cosmetics, indicating that some victims were carrying mixed freight.

Experts note that the variety of goods involved suggests the thefts may harm a wider range of American consumers, not just the artificial intelligence industry. The presence of household items alongside specialized tech hardware complicates the recovery process. Law enforcement is currently probing the most high-profile thefts with the help of consultants who specialize in digital freight fraud.

In two of the largest thefts identified by NBC News, no equipment was recovered. In both instances, off-duty police officers hired to escort the shipments were targeted in hit-and-run accidents. The physical attacks on the escorts occurred alongside the digital manipulation of tracking data. These incidents illustrate the combined physical and digital strategy used by the theft ring to secure millions in hardware.