Spot a fake or altered invoice

A genuine-looking invoice with the wrong bank account is a classic scam. The supplier may be real and unaware.

1. Be suspicious whenever an invoice arrives with new or changed bank account details.
2. Compare the bank details against a previous invoice or your records — don’t assume the latest one is right.
3. Phone the supplier on a known number to confirm any change before paying — never the contact details on the invoice.
4. Check the email address closely for a subtle misspelling of the supplier’s real domain.
5. Set a rule that all bank-detail changes are verified by a second person before payment goes out.