Invoice Redirection Scam
In this scam, fraudsters posing as a supplier or contractor email that their bank details have changed, so your next invoice payment is diverted to the scammer's account instead of the genuine business.
By the Scam or Safe Editorial TeamResearched & reviewed for accuracyQuick verdict
How this scam works
In this scam, fraudsters posing as a supplier or contractor email that their bank details have changed, so your next invoice payment is diverted to the scammer's account instead of the genuine business.
Bank and payment scams weaponise your trust in your bank and your fear of losing money. They fake fraud alerts, blocked payments, or refunds, then steer you into moving money to a "safe account", sharing a one-time code, or approving a transfer, actions a genuine bank will never ask of you.
In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An email says a supplier's bank details have changed for your next payment. Verify any bank-detail change by calling the supplier on a known, trusted number.
Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Real Estate Wire Fraud Scam and the CEO Fraud Scam. See the full Bank & Payment Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.
How to spot this scam
- An unexpected request to change a supplier's bank details
- Email-only contact about the change
- Slight differences in the sender's address
- Pressure to pay an outstanding invoice quickly
- New account details that do not match prior records
What the message looks like
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 email says a supplier's bank details have changed for your next payment.
The scale of it
How to protect yourself
- Verify any bank-detail change by phone using a known number
- Confirm changes through a second, trusted channel
- Set a policy that payment changes require verification
- Be alert to look-alike email domains
Already responded? Do this now
- If you paid the new account, contact your bank immediately to try to recall it
- Alert the genuine supplier and confirm their real details
- Report the fraud to your bank and authorities
- Review email security, as your or the supplier's account may be compromised
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not change payment details on an email alone
- Do not skip verification due to urgency
- Do not assume a familiar logo means it is genuine
Related scams to know
Real Estate Wire Fraud Scam
During a property purchase, criminals who have gained access to a hacked estate agent, solicitor or title company email account send fake or 'updated' wiring instructions. The aim is to divert your deposit or closing funds into an account they control. Because the email appears to come from a trusted party at exactly the right moment in the transaction, these messages can be very convincing. Always verify any payment details by phone using a number you already know.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
CEO Fraud Scam
CEO fraud, a form of business email compromise, involves a scammer pretending to be a senior leader and pressuring an employee to move money or buy gift cards quickly and quietly. The email often mimics the executive's name and writing style, claims they are busy or travelling, and stresses secrecy. Because it exploits authority and urgency, even careful staff can be caught out. Slowing down and verifying any unusual payment request through a known channel is the most reliable defence.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
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
Common questions
How does invoice redirection work?
How do I verify a change safely?
I paid the new account. What now?
Whose email was hacked?
Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the Scam or Safe Editorial Team