Last updated 6 months ago | Originally Published: November 15, 2023

Massive Theft of Exotic Kit Kats Shakes Up New York Snack Industry

In a startling incident shaking the snack industry, a New York-based entrepreneur faced a significant loss when a shipment containing $250,000 worth of rare Japanese Kit Kats vanished. Danny Taing, the owner of Bokksu, a US-based company specializing in delivering unique Japanese snacks to its subscribers, found himself entangled in a complex web of identity theft and fraudulent email accounts.

This incident is part of a worrying trend in online fraud, often referred to as “strategic theft” or “fictitious pickups.” These crimes, which have surged by 700% in 2023, involve extortion and identity theft elements. CargoNet, a cargo theft reporting and recovery network, noted an alarming rate of about 200 cargo theft incidents monthly this year. These thefts range from electronics and energy drinks to solar panels, affecting various industries nationwide.

In this particular case, the shipment, which was to travel from Japan to New Jersey, was intercepted in a sophisticated scam. The scam, known as “shipment misdirection,” involves fraudsters impersonating motor carriers to redirect shipments to locations under their control. Over 600 attempts at such misdirections have been reported since November.

Taing invested $110,000 in the shipment with hopes of reselling it for profit and was under immense pressure to recover the lost goods. In his frantic efforts, he enlisted Shane Black of Freight Rate Central, a Florida-based company coordinating truck fleets across the U.S., paying $13,000 in the process. This initiated a desperate search involving message board posts and email exchanges with individuals from HCH Trucking and MVK Transport Inc. in a race against time to save the chocolate bars from melting.

Part of the shipment was eventually located, but releasing it involved navigating additional challenges, including proper identification and storage fees. This incident highlights the growing vulnerability of cargo shipments to sophisticated online fraud schemes, posing a significant threat to businesses of all sizes.

Discover More About Kit Kat Candy Bars

As we continue to follow this unfolding story, we invite you to explore our extensive and ever-expanding selection of Kit Kat Bars here at Candy Retailer. Or you can click here to learn more about this iconic candy bar brand; we have an entire category dedicated just to Kit Kat, and it’s forever expanding!