{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Transportation Nation","title":"Pastors, Huts, and Ghost Loads: Inside the Agent Scam Pipeline","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/b8175cf0\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2045,"description":"Fake agents are infiltrating freight networks every single day — and Ellen Mayo has the receipts.\nIn this episode of Transportation Nation, host Lee Gentry sits down with Ellen Mayo of Bennett to break down how scam rings operating out of Pakistan, Eastern Europe, and beyond are stealing identities, posting ghost loads, and holding real freight hostage for Bitcoin ransoms.\nWhat you'll hear:\n- How Ellen uncovered \"Scott,\" a scammer who stole an Oregon pastor's identity (and nearly got hired)\n- The $1.2M cell phone load held hostage out of Texas\n- Red flags every agent recruiter should know: VPN mismatches, no video calls, suspicious books of business, and vague answers about past employers\n- Why \"laptop farms\" and overseas call centers are targeting U.S. freight\n- Bennett's vetting checklist and why slowing down protects your whole network\nEllen's core message to recruiters: don't be desperate. One bad agent can cost you months.\nIf you're a legitimate agent looking for a home — or a recruiter who wants to compare notes and keep bad actors out of the industry — reach out to Ellen on LinkedIn or through BennettIG.com.\nTimestamps\n00:28 Meet Ellen Mayo\n02:43 The rise of fake agents\n03:27 Scott: a stolen identity case\n06:16 Confirming the real Scott\n08:35 Pakistan hostage load\n10:14 Scammer networks in the US\n13:13 Red flags to watch for\n16:36 Verifying with checklists and video\n20:36 Laptop farms explained\n23:11 Why Bennett: no foreign agents\n27:45 Closing advice: don't be desperate","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/dp8Qu1ep64tErzXugq5JHnDw3TVsN2YgBa22Lk5CuGg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iNmY3/ZDAxNGFhMzg4ZjYx/MDJlYTZlYWIxODkw/MDBmOC5qcGVn.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}