$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Coinbase Commerce invoice scam
Fraudulent invoices sent via Coinbase Commerce or mimicking its interface trick businesses and individuals into paying for goods or services they never ordered.
“impersonation scam”
↑ 604%Key indicators
Usually targetsSmall business owners
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $12K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports330,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create Coinbase Commerce accounts and send payment invoices to business email addresses harvested from public directories or data breaches.
2
The invoice appears legitimate because it comes through the real Coinbase Commerce payment infrastructure, making it harder to identify as a scam.
3
Victims who pay the invoice send cryptocurrency directly to the scammer's Coinbase Commerce account, where it is quickly withdrawn.
What to do first
Never pay an invoice you did not expect — verify with the supposed sender through a separate communication channel.
Related terms
fake Coinbase invoiceCoinbase Commerce phishingcrypto invoice fraudBrand impersonation scamsCoinbaseSurgingSmall business ownersFreelancersOnline merchantsFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadafake Coinbase invoiceCoinbase Commerce phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Steven, 45, a small business owners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate brand impersonation scams situation while using Coinbase. Scammers create Coinbase Commerce accounts and send payment invoices to business email addresses harvested from public directories or data breaches.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The invoice appears legitimate because it comes through the real Coinbase Commerce payment infrastructure, making it harder to identify as a scam.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims who pay the invoice send cryptocurrency directly to the scammer's Coinbase Commerce account, where it is quickly withdrawn.
The outcome
Steven realized something was wrong when you receive a coinbase commerce payment request for a product or service you did not purchase. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never pay an invoice you did not expect — verify with the supposed sender through a separate communication channel. Steven's experience shows why you receive a coinbase commerce payment request for a product or service you did not purchase and the invoice demands immediate payment and threatens account suspension for non-payment are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- You receive a Coinbase Commerce payment request for a product or service you did not purchase
- The invoice demands immediate payment and threatens account suspension for non-payment
- The sender's email or business name does not match any vendor you work with
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Never pay an invoice you did not expect — verify with the supposed sender through a separate communication channel.
- ✓Check your purchase history and email correspondence to confirm whether you ordered the product or service described.
- ✓Report fraudulent invoices to Coinbase at [email protected] and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB Scam Tracker reported a significant increase in invoice and billing scams in 2023, with cryptocurrency payment requests becoming a growing vector.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Never pay an invoice you did not expect — verify with the supposed sender through a separate communication channel.
- ✓Check your purchase history and email correspondence to confirm whether you ordered the product or service described.
- ✓Report fraudulent invoices to Coinbase at [email protected] and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB Scam Tracker reported a significant increase in invoice and billing scams in 2023, with cryptocurrency payment requests becoming a growing vector.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Small business owners, Freelancers, Online merchants
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Coinbase — Brand impersonation scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Small business owners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB Scam Tracker reported a significant increase in invoice and billing scams in 2023, with cryptocurrency payment requests becoming a growing vector.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about coinbase commerce invoice scam
How does the coinbase commerce invoice scam work?+
Scammers create Coinbase Commerce accounts and send payment invoices to business email addresses harvested from public directories or data breaches. The invoice appears legitimate because it comes through the real Coinbase Commerce payment infrastructure, making it harder to identify as a scam. Victims who pay the invoice send cryptocurrency directly to the scammer's Coinbase Commerce account, where it is quickly withdrawn.
What are the warning signs of coinbase commerce invoice scam?+
You receive a Coinbase Commerce payment request for a product or service you did not purchase The invoice demands immediate payment and threatens account suspension for non-payment The sender's email or business name does not match any vendor you work with
What should I do if I encounter coinbase commerce invoice scam?+
Never pay an invoice you did not expect — verify with the supposed sender through a separate communication channel. Check your purchase history and email correspondence to confirm whether you ordered the product or service described. Report fraudulent invoices to Coinbase at [email protected] and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Who is most at risk for coinbase commerce invoice scam?+
This scam primarily targets Small business owners, Freelancers, Online merchants. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Coinbase.
Is coinbase commerce invoice scam getting worse?+
Coinbase Commerce invoice scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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