Freight fraud · 7 min read

Jakub Wujec

Last reviewed: 16 June 2026

Fake carrier insurance documents and mismatch signals before pickup

Fake carrier insurance documents often fail on details: cargo policy holder differs from the invoice entity, expiry date already passed, plate not active in UFG or AIDA, or PDF metadata that does not match the insurer format. Check bureau data when you have plates for MTPL status and vehicle description. Treat a mismatch as a risk signal that requires review. A scanned policy alone does not prove cover on pickup day.

Key checks before you assign the load

UFG, AIDA, SKP, ČKP, or local bureau lookup when plates are available.
Policy holder name matches the legal entity on the register and invoice.
Expiry date on bureau data, not only on the PDF attachment.
Vehicle type commercial in register and insurance, not passenger car on freight.
CMR or cargo policy requested when bureau covers MTPL only.
Policy analysis upload compared with bureau outcome when your process uses it.

Quick triage before you accept the pickup

A scanned policy shows what someone typed into a PDF, not what is on cover today. Check the bureau instead.

Step 1: Run a bureau lookup by plate

Query UFG, AIDA, SKP, ČKP, or the local equivalent using the vehicle plate, not the PDF the carrier sent.

Step 2: Match bureau vehicle and insurer data to the booking

Compare insurer, policy number, and vehicle description from the bureau with the truck you booked and any certificate you were sent. Policy holder names often come from the cargo or CMR policy PDF, not from every bureau.

Step 3: Check the cover date on bureau data, not the PDF

Bureau records reflect cover as of check day. A PDF can show a date that no longer holds.

Step 4: Confirm vehicle type and cargo cover, not just MTPL

Check that the vehicle class is commercial, and request CMR or cargo policy detail when the bureau result covers MTPL only.

If the load is already moving

Call the insurer named on the bureau record directly to confirm the policy is active.
Request an updated bureau printout dated to today, not the PDF from the booking thread.
Hold pickup or delivery confirmation until MTPL status and cargo policy holder match your booking.
Freeze payment if the mismatch between PDF and bureau remains unexplained.
File a police report if you believe the insurance document was fabricated.

What not to rely on

Insurance certificate PDF without same-day bureau or plate check.
Email statement that cover "includes CMR" without policy wording.
Policy number quoted in the thread without insurer verification.
Old policy from a prior load with the same carrier name.
Assuming MTPL equals cargo cover for high-value goods.
Visual inspection of PDF letterhead as sole evidence.

Why this risk signal matters and what it does not prove

Counterfeit cargo insurance hurts when cargo is gone and the real policy holder is not your contracting party.

Bureau data is point-in-time on booking day; PDFs can be stale or edited.
A mismatch may indicate fake documents or innocent admin lag after a merger.
Plate checks need correct registration numbers; wrong plate is not fraud, but cover is unknown.
Combining bureau results with register and licence checks closes gaps PDFs leave open.

Red flags and common mistakes

Bureau shows no policy for the plate

May indicate expired cover, wrong plates, or a fabricated document. Pause before loading.

Cargo policy holder differs from contracting carrier

Common risk signal after rebrands. Requires a current cargo or CMR policy tied to the entity you book with.

PDF policy date after bureau shows expiry

May indicate fake carrier insurance document or edited scan. Trust bureau on booking day.

Passenger vehicle insurance on a freight job

Insurer name on PDF not matching bureau record

Invalid carrier insurance policy layout is a review item, not proof alone without bureau check.

When you want bureau and register checks in one place

Certica queries national insurance bureaus when you provide plates, including UFG in Poland and equivalents in other supported countries.

Insurance bureau check by plate where the country supports it.
Register and licence data in the same verification run.
PDF report attaches bureau extracts alongside register and licence results.

Certica

Don't want to do this on every booking?

Certica pulls data from the same registers, checks it, and shows a clear result: what is OK, and what needs clarifying before loading.

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Official sources

FAQ

How do I spot a fake carrier insurance document?

Compare plate cover status, insurer, vehicle description, and cargo policy holder with booking data on the day you load. Mismatches between PDF and bureau are risk signals that require review.

Is MTPL enough for freight cargo?

MTPL covers third-party liability, not necessarily cargo. Your process may still need CMR or cargo policy review beyond bureau MTPL checks.

Can I verify insurance without plates?

Bureau plate sources need registration numbers. Without plates, request current policy documents where enabled, but treat gaps as review items.

Does a positive bureau result mean the PDF is genuine?

A positive bureau result means MTPL cover recorded there on check day. Still match cargo policy holder to your invoice entity and expiry to pickup date.