$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
government compliance invoice scam
A fake invoice demands payment for mandatory government compliance services such as labor law poster updates, OSHA certifications, or ADA compliance reviews that were never ordered.
“invoice scam”
↑ 2%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 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send invoices referencing real compliance requirements like labor law posters or OSHA training.
2
The urgent language about government fines frightens business owners into paying without verifying the sender.
3
The business either receives nothing or a low-value product like a generic compliance poster worth a fraction of the invoiced amount.
What to do first
Verify any compliance requirements directly with the relevant government agency — OSHA, DOL, or your state's labor department.
Related terms
labor law poster scamOSHA compliance invoice scamfake regulatory feeFake invoice scamsEmailStableSmall business ownersAccounts payable teamsStartupsFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomlabor law poster scamOSHA compliance invoice scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Samantha, 45, a small business owners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake invoice scams situation while using Email. Scammers send invoices referencing real compliance requirements like labor law posters or OSHA training.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The urgent language about government fines frightens business owners into paying without verifying the sender.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The business either receives nothing or a low-value product like a generic compliance poster worth a fraction of the invoiced amount.
The outcome
Samantha realized something was wrong when the invoice warns of fines or penalties for non-compliance but you did not request compliance services. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify any compliance requirements directly with the relevant government agency — OSHA, DOL, or your state's labor department. Samantha's experience shows why the invoice warns of fines or penalties for non-compliance but you did not request compliance services and the issuing entity has a name that sounds governmental but is not an actual government agency are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The invoice warns of fines or penalties for non-compliance but you did not request compliance services
- The issuing entity has a name that sounds governmental but is not an actual government agency
- The invoice references real regulations but the service offered is not required or was not ordered
- 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
- ✓Verify any compliance requirements directly with the relevant government agency — OSHA, DOL, or your state's labor department.
- ✓Do not pay invoices from unfamiliar entities referencing government compliance without independent verification.
- ✓Report deceptive compliance invoices to the FTC and the BBB.
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.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
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 FTC warns that government impersonation invoices are a persistent scam type, with labor law poster scams alone generating thousands of complaints annually.
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.
- ✓Verify any compliance requirements directly with the relevant government agency — OSHA, DOL, or your state's labor department.
- ✓Do not pay invoices from unfamiliar entities referencing government compliance without independent verification.
- ✓Report deceptive compliance invoices to the FTC and the BBB.
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 FTC warns that government impersonation invoices are a persistent scam type, with labor law poster scams alone generating thousands of complaints annually.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 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, Accounts payable teams, Startups
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Email — Fake invoice 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 ongoing nature of 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 FTC warns that government impersonation invoices are a persistent scam type, with labor law poster scams alone generating thousands of complaints annually.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about government compliance invoice scam
How does the government compliance invoice scam work?+
Scammers send invoices referencing real compliance requirements like labor law posters or OSHA training. The urgent language about government fines frightens business owners into paying without verifying the sender. The business either receives nothing or a low-value product like a generic compliance poster worth a fraction of the invoiced amount.
What are the warning signs of government compliance invoice scam?+
The invoice warns of fines or penalties for non-compliance but you did not request compliance services The issuing entity has a name that sounds governmental but is not an actual government agency The invoice references real regulations but the service offered is not required or was not ordered
What should I do if I encounter government compliance invoice scam?+
Verify any compliance requirements directly with the relevant government agency — OSHA, DOL, or your state's labor department. Do not pay invoices from unfamiliar entities referencing government compliance without independent verification. Report deceptive compliance invoices to the FTC and the BBB.
Who is most at risk for government compliance invoice scam?+
This scam primarily targets Small business owners, Accounts payable teams, Startups. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Email.
Is government compliance invoice scam still active?+
government compliance invoice scam is currently on our watch list. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. 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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