How to protect yourself from fake companies on a freight exchange

Most problems on freight exchanges come not from the software but from who is on the other side. Fraud often uses the name of a real company, so "I know that company name" is not enough on its own.

Common schemes

• Identity theft: the fraudster posts loads or offers under the name of a real, well-rated company, with contact details of their own.
• Cargo theft: a fake carrier picks up the goods and disappears.
• Double brokering: the load is passed on to someone else without your knowledge; when the payment chain breaks, the real carrier is not paid.
• Advance payment requests: money is asked for up front for "urgent fuel" or "toll fees".

Check before you work together

1. Tax number and trade register: confirm in an official source that the company name and tax number match.
2. Contact channel: is the email domain the company's own? "Corporate" offers from free mail addresses need care.
3. Phone: confirm the offer by calling the company's official number yourself, not the number in the message.
4. Licence: is the carrier's transport licence and insurance up to date?
5. History: read reviews from other companies that have worked with them.
6. Plate and driver: do the vehicle and driver at loading match what was stated in the order?

How Order And Load handles this

• No company sees the exchange before its documents are reviewed and approved.
• Ratings open only after both sides have rated; retaliation ratings are not possible.
• The driver is verified with the last four digits of their phone in addition to the order code.
• Messaging stays on the platform and the conversation history is attached to the order.

If something looks suspicious, write to us before you act. A report about a company protects other users too.