Fake Bill of Lading & Ghost Shipment
Shipping documents show cargo loaded and sailing, but the container is empty, never existed, or the bill of lading number is recycled from an old shipment.
How the scam works
- 1.Buyer agrees to pay against shipping documents (e.g. copy B/L).
- 2.Supplier produces a convincing bill of lading and packing list.
- 3.The container number is recycled, fabricated, or for unrelated cargo.
- 4.Payment is released for goods that were never loaded.
Red flags to watch for
- Carrier or line cannot confirm the B/L number or container.
- Vessel's actual position contradicts the claimed loading port or date.
- Pressure to pay against documents without independent loading proof.
- Container number appears on an unrelated prior shipment.
How to protect yourself
- Verify the B/L and container directly with the shipping line.
- Cross-check vessel movements against the claimed schedule.
- Use container-loading supervision to prove goods were actually stuffed.
- Prefer payment terms that release funds only after verified loading.
In depth
A forged or fraudulent bill of lading makes it appear that goods have been shipped when they have not, or misrepresents the cargo, in order to trigger payment or release of funds under documentary terms. Because the bill of lading is a document of title, a convincing fake can unlock money before anyone confirms a container was ever truly loaded.
Verify shipment independently of the documents the seller provides. Confirm the bill of lading and container details directly with the carrier or line, cross-check vessel and sailing data, and under a letter of credit make independent inspection one of the required documents so the paper the bank examines is itself evidence the goods are real.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
- How do I verify a bill of lading is genuine?
- Contact the shipping line directly to confirm the B/L number and container exist and correspond to your cargo, and cross-check the vessel's actual movements against the claimed loading port and date. Recycled or fabricated B/L numbers are a common ghost-shipment tactic.
- How can I avoid paying for a shipment that was never loaded?
- Use container-loading supervision to prove the goods were actually stuffed, verify the B/L with the carrier, and prefer payment terms that release funds only after verified loading rather than against a copy document.
Real cases
Containers that never sailed
The buyer paid against shipping documents showing containers loaded at one port. The carrier confirmed the containers never existed, and the vessel was at a different port on the claimed loading date.
Worried this is happening to you?
Run your supplier through the structured verification checklist.