Phishing Scams: How to Stay Protected
Phishing scams in the auto logistics industry are becoming more common and more sophisticated. But understanding the warning signs, how to defend against them, and where to report scams significantly reduces your risk, and creates a safer marketplace for everyone.
Know the Warning Signs
The most common phishing scam is credential harvesting. Bad actors will impersonate Central Dispatch or another legitimate company via an email or text, then direct you to a fake website designed to steal your login credentials, payment details, or US DOT information. Watch out for these warning signs, so you can identify attacks before they start.
Unusual Sender Email: Phishing emails will always come from lengthy, complex, or otherwise strange-looking email addresses. All legitimate emails from us will come from:
- reply@messages.centraldispatch.com
- do-not-reply@centraldispatch.com
- An official @centraldispatch.com or @coxautoinc.com domain.
Lookalike Domains: Though scammers can create fake websites that look nearly identical to the official Central Dispatch site or login portal, they always use domains with noticeable character changes, like cëntraldispatch.com. Legitimate URLs will always contain “centraldispatch.com” with no special characters or alterations, such as:
- www.centraldispatch.com
- app.centraldispatch.com
- id.centraldispatch.com
Urgent or Threatening Language: Phishing scams typically use intense language in order to get you to act fast without thinking. Be wary of any messages with sentences like: “Act now or your account will be locked” or “Your service will be discontinued.”
How to Protect Yourself
Use Extreme Caution: We will never ask for passwords, payment details, ACH, or US DOT information through an email or text. Any message requesting you to take actions involving your sensitive information are very likely phishing scams.
Verify Sender Email & URLs: Closely examine messages before clicking any links or downloading attachments. Hover over the sender’s display email name to reveal the true address and see if it looks unusual. Be sure to double check all domains and URLs for extra letters, special characters, or alterations.
If you have doubts, type “centraldispatch.com” directly into your browser and confirm the requests. This ensures you’ll reach our legitimate web page.
Secure Your Account: To add an extra layer of security to your account, set up User Management. This gives each user in your organization their own set of log in credentials, and lets you control their access to sensitive information—dramatically reducing the risk and impact of stolen credentials. You should never share your Central Dispatch log in credentials with anyone.
Report Suspicious Activity: If you receive a suspicious message, report it to our Marketplace Integrity Team. It helps us track scam patterns, investigate cases, and provide you with more personalized security guidance.
Contact the Marketplace Integrity Team at CentralDispatchFraudClaims@coxautoinc.com
Security isn’t just a technology challenge—it’s a shared responsibility between platforms and the people who use them. So while your awareness remains your strongest defense, we’re continually working behind the scenes to root out bad actors, and create new tools to help you stay safe.
