Why Do Fraudsters Target Commercial Fleets for Fraud?

Commercial fleets like delivery trucks, big rigs, and company vans are prime targets for organized fraud.

The bigger the fleet, the more resources criminals will leverage into creating staged crashes, manipulated cargo claims, and exaggerated injuries to extract millions from insurers.

According to the NICB, these aren’t random scams; they’re calculated schemes aimed at well-insured, high-value vehicles. In this post, we unpack their tactics and offer clear strategies for you to fight back.

Staged Accidents

Staged collisions like “swoop-and-squat,” “wave-in,” and “T-bone” maneuvers are classic fraud plays. But did you know commercial vehicles are particularly at risk? Fraudsters target commercial vehicles specifically for their higher medical and liability payouts.

The NICB flags the top five states for such fraud:

1. Florida,
2. New York
3. California
4. Texas
5. Maryland

In one case, “Operation Sideswipe,” a New Orleans ring staged crashes into 18-wheelers, used false witnesses, and embedded runners who flagged trucks on highways.

Red flags adjusters should watch for:

• Crashes near on-ramps or intersections
• Multiple passengers appearing as coordinated witnesses
• Commercial vehicles that are suddenly “involved” in a crash and are followed by referrals to the same law firm or clinic

Real-Life Case Study: Fraud in Action

In one of the most shocking and elaborate commercial vehicle fraud schemes in recent memory, “Operation Sideswipe” revealed just how far criminal rings will go to exploit trucking claims.

This New Orleans-based scheme, which came to light in 2019, involved dozens of staged collisions between passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers.

Here’s how it worked:

• Staged Crashes: Fraudsters intentionally rammed into commercial trucks, often by sideswiping them or abruptly braking in front of them to cause a rear-end collision.
• Fake Witnesses & Runners: Each crash scene was carefully orchestrated. Witnesses were planted, and runners flagged down trucks, all to create the illusion of a legitimate accident.
• Recruited Plaintiffs: Fraud organizers recruited individuals willing to pose as injured passengers in the vehicles, often incentivized by a cut of the settlement.
• Corrupt Legal & Medical Network: The ring partnered with complicit attorneys and doctors who filed personal injury lawsuits and submitted inflated medical bills for non-existent or unnecessary treatments.

More than 40 individuals have been indicted as a result of Operation Sideswipe, including attorneys, runners, and fake claimants. The scheme is believed to have cost insurers millions in fraudulent claims.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), this case is a textbook example of how coordinated fraud rings target commercial fleets, knowing that trucking companies are more likely to settle quickly to avoid litigation and downtime.

Cargo Theft

Fraud doesn’t stop at collisions. Cargo theft (real or staged) is another major threat. Fraudsters may report high-value goods as missing during transit or at depots, backed by falsified manifests and fake “hijacking” stories.

The NICB notes that cargo theft is rising due to global supply chain vulnerabilities.

Tactics include:
• Filing cargo claims with deleted or altered Bill of Lading documents
• Leasing trailers with empty reefer units, then abandoning them and claiming theft
• Match “thefts” with insider logistics workers who help orchestrate the scheme

False Injury Claims: Phantom Passengers & Inflated Pain

Following a crash, the fraud often pivots from property damage to personal injury. This is where phantom passengers and chiropractic mills enter the game.

These setups typically involve:
• Claimants who report injuries inconsistent with crash details
• Repeat visits to high-fraud zip-code clinics
• Referral pipelines from the same attorney networks

Integrated SIU screening and medical canvassing are essential to spot these layered fraud patterns.

What Is Integrated SIU Screening?

Integrated SIU (Special Investigations Unit) Screening refers to the automated or semi-automated process of flagging suspicious claims activity early in the lifecycle of a claim using data-driven tools that are directly embedded into the claims workflow.

Rather than relying solely on adjusters to manually refer potential fraud cases to SIU, integrated screening analyzes claim patterns, behavior, and data anomalies in real-time—triaging questionable activity as it happens.

Key Features of Integrated SIU Screening:
• Real-Time Risk Scoring: Claims are automatically scored based on indicators like billing patterns, treatment timelines, or claimant behavior.
• Seamless Workflow Integration: Fraud flags are built directly into the claim system, allowing adjusters to see alerts without leaving their platform.
• Data Fusion: Combines internal claim data with external sources (e.g., social media scans, prior loss history, provider watchlists).
• Early SIU Intervention: Helps SIU teams prioritize and investigate the highest-risk claims sooner.

Why Are Fleets the Most Common Target?

According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, staged collisions and commercial vehicle crooks cost consumers and insurers an estimated $308 billion per year

What makes fleets attractive?
• Vehicles are well-insured, sometimes self-insured, and likely to be settled fast
• Larger payouts incentivize more sophisticated fraud rings
• Commercial trucks are less scrutinized at crash sites—drivers often don’t capture scene evidence

Strategies to detect and disrupt fleet fraud:

• Telematics & dash cams: Leverage real-time GPS, video logs
• Accident reconstruction: Use experts to verify collision mechanics
• Driver & clinic background: Monitor repeated referrals and zip-code fraud trends
• Medical canvassing: Investigate local clinics post-accident to verify claimant presence

High Risk Targets

Commercial fleets remain high-risk targets, precisely because they’re valuable. Whether it’s a staged car crash, a cargo heist, or an exaggerated injury, fraud rings rely on sophisticated tactics and minimal detection. Insurers and claims teams can win this game—but only by staying proactive, embedding technology, and aggressively validating every layer of the claim.

Ready to strengthen your fleet fraud defenses?

Reach out for a full strategy session with our SIU experts.

Check out our sources:

National Insurance Crime Bureau. “Cargo Theft Continues to Rise.” National Insurance Crime Bureau, 2024, www.nicb.org/news/cargo-theft-report-2024.