$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
office supplies invoice scam
Scammers send fake invoices for office supplies such as toner, paper, or printer cartridges that were never ordered, targeting businesses that process many similar invoices.
“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 call businesses pretending to verify equipment information, then use the details to create convincing invoices.
2
The invoice is sent for overpriced supplies, claiming they were ordered during the phone call.
3
If the business refuses to pay, the scammer may threaten collections or legal action.
What to do first
Instruct staff to never provide equipment or ordering details to unsolicited callers.
Related terms
toner phishing scamfake supply invoiceunordered merchandise invoiceFake invoice scamsPhoneStableSmall business ownersAccounts payable teamsFreelancersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomtoner phishing scamfake supply invoice
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Daniel, 45, a small business owners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate fake invoice scams situation while using Phone. Scammers call businesses pretending to verify equipment information, then use the details to create convincing invoices.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The invoice is sent for overpriced supplies, claiming they were ordered during the phone call.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: If the business refuses to pay, the scammer may threaten collections or legal action.
The outcome
Daniel realized something was wrong when an invoice arrives for generic office supplies with no corresponding purchase order. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Instruct staff to never provide equipment or ordering details to unsolicited callers. Daniel's experience shows why an invoice arrives for generic office supplies with no corresponding purchase order and a phone call preceded the invoice, asking for the model number of your printer or copier are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- An invoice arrives for generic office supplies with no corresponding purchase order
- A phone call preceded the invoice, asking for the model number of your printer or copier
- The invoice uses a company name that sounds similar to a well-known office supply brand
- 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
- ✓Instruct staff to never provide equipment or ordering details to unsolicited callers.
- ✓Require purchase orders for all supply orders and match every invoice to an approved PO before payment.
- ✓Report the scam to the FTC — you are not legally obligated to pay for unordered merchandise.
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.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
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 notes that the unordered merchandise scam, including fake office supply invoices, has been reported consistently for decades and remains a common tactic targeting businesses.
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.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Instruct staff to never provide equipment or ordering details to unsolicited callers.
- ✓Require purchase orders for all supply orders and match every invoice to an approved PO before payment.
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 notes that the unordered merchandise scam, including fake office supply invoices, has been reported consistently for decades and remains a common tactic targeting businesses.
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, Freelancers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Phone — 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 notes that the unordered merchandise scam, including fake office supply invoices, has been reported consistently for decades and remains a common tactic targeting businesses.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about office supplies invoice scam
How does the office supplies invoice scam work?+
Scammers call businesses pretending to verify equipment information, then use the details to create convincing invoices. The invoice is sent for overpriced supplies, claiming they were ordered during the phone call. If the business refuses to pay, the scammer may threaten collections or legal action.
What are the warning signs of office supplies invoice scam?+
An invoice arrives for generic office supplies with no corresponding purchase order A phone call preceded the invoice, asking for the model number of your printer or copier The invoice uses a company name that sounds similar to a well-known office supply brand
What should I do if I encounter office supplies invoice scam?+
Instruct staff to never provide equipment or ordering details to unsolicited callers. Require purchase orders for all supply orders and match every invoice to an approved PO before payment. Report the scam to the FTC — you are not legally obligated to pay for unordered merchandise.
Who is most at risk for office supplies invoice scam?+
This scam primarily targets Small business owners, Accounts payable teams, Freelancers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Phone.
Is office supplies invoice scam still active?+
office supplies 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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