Thieves made off with $400K worth of Costco lobsters using a sneaky new trick

These thieves are just shell-fish.

Almost half a million dollars’ worth of lobster en route to Costco stores was stolen after sneaky thieves used a new trick to make off with the succulent seafood.

The lobsters were being transported from Massachusetts to stores in Illinois and Minnesota when they disappeared.

The shipment was reportedly picked up in Taunton, Mass., but never reached its destination, according to the president of Rexing Companies, the Indiana-based freight company tasked with transporting the lobster.

Some $400,000 worth of lobsters were reportedly stolen en route to Costco wholesale stores. Mikael Damkier – stock.adobe.com

The thieves deployed a sneaky new trick to make off with the goods — they buttered up the logistics company by using a fake ID to pose as real truckers, according to the owner of the company.

“This theft wasn’t random. It followed a pattern we’re seeing more and more, where criminals impersonate legitimate carriers using spoofed emails and burner phones to hijack high-value freight while it’s in transit,” Dylan Rexing told NBC News.

The loss of $400,000 worth of lobster was a “significant” one for the company, he added.

“It forces tough decisions and ultimately drives up costs across the supply chain — costs consumers ultimately end up paying,” Rexing added.

The lobsters were bound for stores in Illinois and Minnesota. Alfonsodetomas – stock.adobe.com

He added that the theft should be claws for alarm for everyone.

“Brokers are on the front lines of this problem, but we need federal agencies to have modern enforcement tools to keep pace with organized criminal networks. Until that happens, these thefts will continue to disrupt businesses and impact everyday prices,” Rexing said.

The crime is now being investigated by the FBI.

Costco did not immediately respond to requests for comment.