TRAILER RENTAL SCAM ALERT

CRETE CARRIER AND SHAFFER TRUCKING TRAILERS ARE NOT FOR RENT

Crete Carrier Corporation and Shaffer Trucking do not rent or lease trailers to third-party trucking companies, owner-operators, brokers, equipment rental companies, trailer leasing companies, or any other third party.

If someone claims to have authority to rent, lease, or provide access to a Crete Carrier or Shaffer Trucking trailer, the offer is unauthorized unless Crete Carrier Corporation directly confirms otherwise.

HAVE YOU BEEN OFFERED A CRETE OR SHAFFER TRAILER FOR RENT?

If so, you may be the target of a scam. Fraudsters may advertise trailers for rent, collect money from a carrier, and direct the carrier to pick up a trailer the fraudster does not own and has no authority to lease. A victim may not discover the fraud until after paying money, taking possession of the trailer, or being contacted by the actual owner.

The most important fact to remember: Crete Carrier Corporation and Shaffer Trucking never rent or lease trailers.

UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION MAY RESULT IN RECOVERY, DAMAGES, AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTION

Scammers may provide documents that appear legitimate, including lease agreements, invoices, DOT or MC information, insurance information, trailer numbers, pickup instructions, or purported authorization. Those materials do not create lawful authority to possess or use a Crete Carrier or Shaffer Trucking trailer.

• Immediate recovery or repossession efforts
• Civil claims for damages
• Reports to law enforcement
• Criminal investigation
• Criminal prosecution where appropriate

Payment to a scammer does not create authorization to possess, pull, move, or use a Crete Carrier or Shaffer Trucking trailer.

HOW THE SCAM COMMONLY WORKS

1. Fake advertisementA scammer advertises a trailer for rent through social media, marketplace sites, messaging applications, text messages, or online classifieds.
2. Payment requestThe scammer requests payment, often through a peer-to-peer payment platform.
3. Fake paperworkThe scammer provides paperwork or company information intended to make the transaction appear legitimate.
4. Pickup instructionsThe victim is directed to a customer facility, drop yard, truck stop, open lot, warehouse, or other location where a trailer is parked.
5. Unauthorized possessionThe victim removes the trailer believing that it has been lawfully rented.
6. Recovery and investigationThe actual owner discovers that the trailer was removed without authorization and begins recovery efforts or contacts law enforcement.

If the equipment is a Crete Carrier or Shaffer Trucking trailer, the carrier was not authorized to possess it unless Crete Carrier Corporation directly confirmed the movement.

MAJOR RED FLAGS

• The trailer carrier Crete Carrier or Shaffer Trucking markingsThis is the clearest warning sign. These trailers are not offered for rent or lease to third parties.
• Payment through a peer-to-peer applicationRequests involving Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, or similar services warrant immediate verification.
• Pickup from a yard with little or no trailer checkout controlsScammers may direct victims to parking lots, truck stops, drop yards, customer facilities, or warehouse lots.
• Pressure to act immediatelyUrgency, unusually easy approval, or statements that another carrier is waiting can be used to prevent careful verification.
• No credit or insurance verificationA rental process with little or no business verification should be treated cautiously.

VERIFY BEFORE YOU MOVE ANY TRAILER

• Confirm whether Crete Carrier Corporation directly authorized your company to possess or move the trailer
• Do not rely solely on a phone number, email address, website, document, or contact supplied by the person offering the trailer
• Confirm the trailer number, pickup location, and requested movement directly with Crete Carrier Corporation
• Do not send money or attach to the trailer until authorization has been independently verified

HELP US STOP THESE SCAMMERS

If an individual or vendor attempts to rent, lease, or provide access to a Crete Carrier or Shaffer Trucking trailer, please report the person or company to Crete Carrier Corporation and to the website or platform where the advertisement or vendor listing appears.

Information to Preserve and Report

• The advertiser or vendor name
• Phone numbers and email addresses used
• The website, marketplace, social media page, or group where the offer appeared
• Screenshots of the advertisement and vendor profile
• Rental agreements, invoices, payment instructions, and payment receipts
• Trailer numbers, VIN information, license plate information, and pickup locations
• Any names, account handles, or payment account information used by the suspected scammer

Use the platform’s available fraud, scam, impersonation, or prohibited-listing reporting process to identify the vendor or listing as fraudulent. Preserve screenshots before reporting because a listing or profile may later be removed.

THINK YOU MAY ALREADY BE A VICTIM?

Contact Crete Carrier Corporation immediately if you have sent money, signed rental documents, received instructions to pick up a Crete or Shaffer trailer, or already taken possession of one.

• Do not move the trailer further unless directed by its lawful owner or law enforcement
• Preserve all advertisements, communications, documents, and payment records
• Do not assume paperwork supplied by the vendor establishes authority
• Contact Crete Carrier Corporation at (800) 745-9569 to confirm the trailer’s status and receive appropriate contact information.
• Consider promptly notifying local law enforcement and your financial institution or payment provider, as appropriate

• FreightWavesTrailer Rental Scams Are on the Rise: What Every Trucker Should Know
• Premier Trailer LeasingTrailer Rental Scams Are on the Rise. Here’s What to Watch For
• Land Line Media / OOIDA FoundationA Trailer Scam Warning
• REPOWRTrailer Rental Scams Are Targeting Owner-Operators
• GenLogsTrailer Rental Scams Are Surging: How the Industry Fights Back
• eCarrierCheckThe Rise of Trailer Rental Fraud in the Trucking Industry

Unauthorized possession or use may result in recovery of the trailer, civil damages, and criminal prosecution.

Last updated: October 2026