Protect Yourself: Fighting Fraud in Freight Brokerage - A Message from Vineyard Brokerage

In the digital world, your online identity is everything. Here at Vineyard Brokerage, we take immense pride in being a trusted partner for comprehensive freight solutions across the United States and Canada. However, a growing issue has recently come to our attention that we want to address head-on: the existence of fraudulent domains, fake companies, and scammers impersonating legitimate freight brokerages. This isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a problem that can cause significant financial losses, operational disruptions, and put your valuable business information at risk.

The Growing Problem of Fraud in Logistics

The freight and logistics industry has become a prime target for fraudsters. Criminals create fake broker websites, impersonate established companies, and use sophisticated tactics to defraud honest carriers, customers, and businesses. These scams can result in:

Stolen loads and unpaid invoices for carriers

Lost shipments and deposits for customers

Identity theft and compromised business information

Financial losses running into thousands of dollars per incident

Damaged business relationships and loss of trust

At Vineyard Brokerage, we’ve witnessed firsthand how these fraudulent operations harm our industry, and we’re committed to fighting back.

Common Fraud Tactics in Freight Brokerage

Duplicate Domain Scams

Fraudsters register domain names that are slight variations of established, trusted brands. For example, domains that might be off by a letter, use a different domain extension (like .net, .co, or .org), include unnecessary hyphens, or add extra words. These look-alike sites are designed to confuse visitors into thinking they are interacting with a legitimate, established company like Vineyard Brokerage.

Fake Load Posts

Scammers post fake loads on load boards using stolen company information, offering attractive rates to lure carriers. Once a carrier picks up the load, the fraudster disappears, leaving the carrier unpaid.

Email Spoofing

Scammers send emails that appear to come from legitimate companies, complete with copied logos and professional formatting. These emails may request sensitive information, change payment instructions, or confirm fraudulent loads.

Phone Number Spoofing

Fraudsters use technology to make their phone calls appear to come from legitimate company numbers, adding another layer of deception to their schemes.

Why This is a Critical Problem

Confusion and Mistrust

When multiple entities claim to be the same company or use similar names, which one is real? Our clients and carriers rely on us for expert, trusted service in a high-stakes industry. Encountering fake websites or fraudulent communications can erode the confidence you have in legitimate brokers.

Severe Financial Risks

The biggest danger is to your financial security. Fraudulent websites and impersonators cannot be trusted with payment information, banking details, or load confirmations. Submitting information to scammers can result in:

Stolen loads worth thousands of dollars

Unpaid freight bills

Wire transfer fraud

Identity theft

Compromised bank accounts

Operational Disruptions

Falling victim to fraud can halt your operations, damage relationships with legitimate partners, and require extensive time and resources to resolve.

Industry-Wide Damage

Every successful fraud operation makes carriers and customers more hesitant to work with legitimate brokers, harming the entire industry.

Our Official Stance: One Domain, One Company, Zero Tolerance for Fraud

Let us be unequivocally clear:
The only official, authorized, and secure online home for our company is:

www.vineyardbrokerage.com

Official Email Domain: All Vineyard Brokerage employee emails end with @vineyardbrokerage.com
If you are communicating with a different domain, email address, or website—regardless of how similar it looks or sounds—you are NOT dealing with the official Vineyard Brokerage.

How We Are Combating Fraud & Protecting Our Partners

At Vineyard Brokerage, we take fraud prevention seriously and have implemented multiple protective measures: Our Active Defense Strategies:

Legal Action: We pursue legal remedies against fraudulent entities using our name or likeness
SEO Canonicalization:We’ve implemented technical standards to ensure search engines recognize vineyardbrokerage.com as the one and only original source
Verified Contact Information: All our official contact details are listed on our website and can be independently verified
FMCSA Registration: We maintain proper registration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Active Monitoring: We continuously monitor for fraudulent activity and report suspicious sites immediately
Customer Education: We proactively inform our partners about fraud tactics and prevention methods
Secure Communication Channels: All official communications come from verified company email addresses and phone numbers

Our Company Values: Integrity and Honesty We stand by our carriers and customers. Integrity and Honesty are our foundational values. We believe in transparent business practices, clear communication, and building long-term partnerships based on trust. We will not tolerate fraud—against us or against our industry partners.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

We urge our valued clients, carriers, and partners to be vigilant. Here are critical steps to protect yourself: Before Working With Any Broker:

Always Verify the Website URL

Before clicking on any link or submitting information, check the address bar in your browser

It must read: https://www.vineyardbrokerage.com

Be suspicious of variations like “vineyardbrokerages.com,” “vineyardbrokerag.com,” or any other domain

Look for Security Indicators

Ensure the URL begins with https:// (the “s” stands for secure)

Look for the padlock icon next to the address in your browser

Click the padlock to verify the site’s security certificate

Verify Email Addresses Carefully

Legitimate Vineyard Brokerage emails always end with @vineyardbrokerage.com

Be wary of variations like @vineyardbrokerage.net or @vineyardbrokerage.co

Check the actual email address, not just the display name (fraudsters can fake display names)

Confirm Through Multiple Channels

If you receive an unexpected email or call, verify it through a separate, known-good contact method

Call our official phone number listed on our website to confirm any suspicious communication

Never use contact information provided in a suspicious email or text

Check FMCSA Registration

Verify any broker’s MC number and DOT number through the FMCSA website

Confirm the company name, address, and contact information match official records

Our details are available on our official website for verification

Be Cautious of Red Flags

Requests for immediate payment or unusual payment methods

Pressure to act quickly without proper verification

Rates that seem too good to be true

Poor grammar or spelling in professional communications

Reluctance to provide verifiable company information

Requests to communicate only through personal email or messaging apps

Trust Your Instincts

If something feels wrong or too good to be true, it probably is

Take time to verify before committing to any transaction

Don’t let anyone pressure you into quick decisions

If You Encounter Fraud: Report It Immediately:

Forward suspicious emails, links, or communications to: info@vineyardbrokerage.com

Report the fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): www.ic3.gov

File a complaint with the FMCSA if motor carrier fraud is involved

Report to your local law enforcement

Warn other industry partners through appropriate channels

Do Not:

Do not interact with suspicious sites or contacts

Do not provide any personal, financial, or business information

Do not make any payments until you’ve verified legitimacy through official channels

Our Commitment to You

Your trust is our most valuable asset. At Vineyard Brokerage, we are committed to:

Transparent Operations: Clear communication, honest dealings, and no hidden practices

Secure Transactions: Industry-standard security measures to protect your information

Reliable Service: We stand by our commitments to carriers and customers

Proactive Protection: Continuously monitoring and combating fraud in our industry

Partnership: Building long-term relationships based on integrity and mutual success

We believe that by working together—brokers, carriers, and customers—we can combat fraud and maintain the integrity that our industry deserves.

Working With the Real Vineyard Brokerage

When you work with us through our official channels, you can expect:

Comprehensive Freight Solutions: FTL, LTL, Drayage, OTR, Temperature-Controlled, and Specialized Freight

Professional Service: Expert coordination and communication throughout your shipment

Competitive Rates: Fair pricing without compromising on service quality

Reliable Delivery: On-time performance and commitment to your schedule

24/7 Support: Available when you need us

Additional Services: Amazon appointments, customs clearance, warehousing, and more

Our Service Promise: “Your Load, Our Promise – Delivered Every Time, On Time” We never give back any load. When you trust Vineyard Brokerage with your freight, we deliver—guaranteed.

Ready to Work with Real Experts?

If you’re looking for a trusted freight brokerage partner who values integrity, delivers results, and stands by their commitments, we’re here for you.

Official Contact Methods:

Website: www.vineyardbrokerage.com
Email: info@vineyardbrokerage.com

US Office:
75 N Main St
Zionsville, IN 46077

Verify Before You Trust

Before working with any broker claiming to be Vineyard Brokerage:

Visit our official website directly (type the URL yourself, don’t click links)
Call our verified phone number from our website
Confirm email addresses end with @vineyardbrokerage.com
1. Check our FMCSA registration

Together, We Fight Fraud

The freight and logistics industry is built on trust, reliability, and honest partnerships. Fraud threatens all of that. By staying informed, vigilant, and communicating through verified channels, we can protect our businesses and maintain the integrity of our industry.

At Vineyard Brokerage, we’re committed to being part of the solution. We will continue to fight fraud, protect our partners, and uphold the values of Integrity and Honesty that define our company.

Stay safe. Stay vigilant. Stay with verified partners.

Vineyard Brokerage: Facilitated Transportation Solutions

Woman-Owned Business | Serving USA & Canada

Contact us today through our official channels for all your freight needs.

Have questions about this article or want to report suspicious activity? Contact us at info@vineyardbrokerage.com

Last Updated: December 2025