When you’re building a business hauling freight, you need a freight marketplace you can trust. GPS spoofing—when criminals fake location data to steal loads—doesn’t just hurt Amazon. It directly impacts legitimate carriers like you by reducing available loads, creating payment delays during fraud investigations, and undermining the reliability of the entire network.
Here’s how Relay actively protects your business and what you can do to safeguard your account.
Why geospoofing matters to your trucking business
GPS spoofing occurs when fraudsters manipulate Global Positioning System location data to make it appear they’re hauling loads they’ve actually stolen. This type of fraud creates real problems for carriers operating honestly:
- Fewer load opportunities: When fraudsters book loads they never intend to haul, those routes become unavailable to legitimate carriers until the fraud is detected.
- Network instability: Fraud erodes the trust and predictability you need to plan your business and maintain consistent revenue.
- Potential account scrutiny: If your credentials are compromised, your company could face investigation even though you did nothing wrong.
How Relay protects Amazon’s network from geospoofing
Relay tracks loads to verify freight movements and ensure accurate payments. But more importantly, we’ve built detection systems that can identify and remove bad actors before they can complete fraudulent loads. Our goal is to maintain a stable, trustworthy marketplace where you can build a sustainable business.
- Rapid detection and removal: Our systems monitor for suspicious patterns and flag potential fraud quickly, minimizing the impact on legitimate carriers.
- Permanent consequences for fraudsters: Anyone caught using GPS spoofing faces immediate account termination, a permanent ban from Amazon Relay, referral to law enforcement for criminal prosecution, and potential federal charges carrying significant prison time.
- Security courses: Relay offers tips to onboarded carriers in our Learning Center to help you stay informed about emerging threats and best practices.
- Continuous system improvements: As fraud tactics evolve, so do our protections. We’re constantly refining our detection capabilities to stay ahead of new schemes.
“I love Amazon Relay’s trust, security, and stability.”
Protect your trucking business from geospoofing
You’re your own best defense against account fraud. Here’s how to keep your business secure:
- Monitor your account regularly: Check for unusual, unauthorized load activity, including any loads your company didn’t book or haul. Review your invoices to make sure they match loads your company actually hauled.
- Secure your credentials: Don’t share your login information with anyone. Amazon Relay will never request that you share this information.
- Watch for red flags: Be cautious of anyone asking you to use fake GPS location tools, spoof geolocation, or deliver their loads (Amazon doesn’t allow double brokering). If any offer seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
- Report suspicious activity immediately: If you notice unexpected changes to your settings, payment information, or any other unusual account activity, contact us right away at relay-network-reports@amazon.com. If you believe you’ve been a victim of fraud, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov and your local law enforcement agency.
For general information, see our tips on avoiding email or other digital scams. Always verify requests directly on the official Amazon Relay website.
Relay prioritizes security & stability
Network security isn’t just about catching fraudsters—it’s about creating an environment where legitimate carriers can thrive. When you protect your account and report suspicious activity, you’re helping maintain the stable, predictable freight marketplace that makes your business possible.
Ready to haul with us? Apply on desktop or the Relay app on iOS or Android. But first, check out Relay’s carrier requirements to make sure hauling for Amazon is the right fit for your business.
Disclaimer: Amazon does not tender loads through any third-party load boards. Any Amazon loads posted on third-party load boards will only be tendered directly to approved and onboarded carriers via the Relay web portal or Relay mobile app. If you are interested in hauling loads for Amazon, sign up and book directly on relay.amazon.com. For more about our efforts against fraud and cargo theft, see our trustworthy transportation page.
