Medium riskBusiness

Directory Listing Scam

In this scam, businesses receive official-looking invoices or 'renewal' notices for online or print directory listings they never ordered, hoping a busy team pays without checking.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Fake invoice (business directory)
Main red flag
An invoice or renewal for a business directory listing you do not recognise.
What to do first
Check against your real records; do not pay invoices for services you never ordered.

How this scam works

In this scam, businesses receive official-looking invoices or 'renewal' notices for online or print directory listings they never ordered, hoping a busy team pays without checking.

Small-business and workplace scams target companies with fake invoices, supplier and CEO impersonation, payroll diversion, bogus directory or registration fees, and purchase-order fraud. Business email compromise is among the costliest of all frauds.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An invoice or renewal for a business directory listing you do not recognise. Check against your real records; do not pay invoices for services you never ordered.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Fake Invoice Email Scam and the Trademark Registration Scam. See the full Small Business & Workplace Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • An invoice for a listing you never ordered
  • Official-looking forms or 'renewal' notices
  • Pressure to pay to 'keep your listing active'
  • A provider not in your records
  • Small but recurring annual charges

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Your business directory listing is due for renewal. Pay this invoice to keep your listing active.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: An invoice or renewal for a business directory listing you do not recognise.

The scale of it

$2.9B
reported lost to business email compromise (BEC) in the US in 2023
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
$12.5B
total reported internet-crime losses in the US in 2023
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

How to protect yourself

  • Check invoices against your real records and approvals
  • Do not pay for services you never ordered
  • Verify any provider before paying
  • Report bogus invoices and warn your team

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider to dispute it
  • Cancel any recurring charge set up
  • Keep the invoice as evidence
  • Report it to consumer or business authorities

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not pay directory invoices without verifying
  • Do not assume official-looking forms are genuine
  • Do not let 'keep your listing active' pressure rush you

Related scams to know

Medium risk Email

Fake Invoice Email Scam

This scam emails an invoice or receipt for something you did not buy, hoping you call a fake 'support' number or click a link to dispute it.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Business

Trademark Registration Scam

In this scam, businesses receive official-looking notices to register, renew, or 'protect' a trademark, charging high fees for unnecessary services or registrations that are not official.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Business

Office Supplies & Toner Scam

In this scam, 'toner pirates' or supply firms ship unordered printer toner or office supplies, then invoice the business at inflated prices, often after a call 'confirming' details to seem legitimate.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Are these directory invoices genuine?
Many are bogus, sent to businesses hoping a busy team pays without checking. Verify against your real records and approvals before paying.
How do I check an invoice?
Match it to your purchase records and approved suppliers, and verify the provider independently. If you never ordered it, do not pay.
I paid one. What now?
Dispute the payment with your bank, cancel any recurring charge, keep the invoice, and report it.
How do we prevent this?
Require purchase orders and approvals for payments, train staff to verify invoices, and be wary of unsolicited 'renewal' notices.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.