@Fr8Guru That is the problem we face and the leverage these people use to perpetuate these scams. The are using technology, LL or other means, to defraud brokers and carriers of money knowing the money stolen is not worth the legal cost and or aggravation to go to court. Insurance won't cover it as the freight was willingly handed over to an "agent" to deliver. The police can't be bothered as its a business transaction and a civil issue.
So....the perfect storm for what is amounting to legalize theft. Don't recall this much crap 20 or 30 years ago...or maybe I'm just starting to sound like my dad.......
You're going about it wrong. You are calling the police claiming that the load is stolen; they hear that a lot lately but you gave them (or someone) permission to take it. Or you say that "BROKER' is not paying me; that is a civil matter.
You need to go to the police and ask them to investigate fraudulent activity that may involve $$$$$$, the value of the load if it has gone missing and/or the value of the freight contract. Just remember that to have any traction at all you will need to definitively have proof that someone was intending to
defraud you. You have to make it super easy for the police to follow up. Doctored documents with fraudulent carrier registration numbers etc - things that they can look up. Remember, the police will not take any action unless they have enough evidence to prove everything in court. If you did a poor job of onboarding your vendor that will not stand up to the scrutiny of court, then you will have lost your chance and diminish any other needs for police help if they are required.
You might have better luck getting rid of the scourge by contacting the insurance company of the carrier you gave the load to. They will be the one that will take action much quicker - especially if they receive multiple phone calls that their insured are posing as a carrier, exposing the cargo portion of the insurance plan and then 'brokering' it out. In my last carrier insurance policy renewal, they wanted a detailed listing of all the loads that I brokered out to a different carrier. Every one of them have a fraud hotline and want to hear about it. If you have documentation, phone numbers, persons names etc all the better.