$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers
Scammers compromise or impersonate an employee's email and send payroll or HR a request to change direct deposit information, diverting paychecks to the scammer's account.
“work from home scam”
↑ 68%Key indicators
Usually targetsRemote workers
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 gain access to an employee's email through phishing or create a spoofed email address that closely mimics the employee's real address.
2
They send a request to payroll or HR asking to update direct deposit information to a new bank account controlled by the scammer.
3
Paychecks are diverted to the scammer's account, and the employee may not notice until they check their bank on payday.
What to do first
Always verify direct deposit change requests through a phone call to the employee using a known number, not the one in the email.
Related terms
direct deposit redirect fraudpayroll diversion scamBEC payroll attackRemote worker scamsEmailRisingRemote workersFreelancersCorporate employeesFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadadirect deposit redirect fraudpayroll diversion scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Ashley, 33, a remote workers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate remote worker scams situation while using Email. Scammers gain access to an employee's email through phishing or create a spoofed email address that closely mimics the employee's real address.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They send a request to payroll or HR asking to update direct deposit information to a new bank account controlled by the scammer.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Paychecks are diverted to the scammer's account, and the employee may not notice until they check their bank on payday.
The outcome
Ashley realized something was wrong when email request to change direct deposit comes from a slightly altered email address. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Always verify direct deposit change requests through a phone call to the employee using a known number, not the one in the email. Ashley's experience shows why email request to change direct deposit comes from a slightly altered email address and request is marked urgent and asks payroll to process the change before the next pay cycle are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Email request to change direct deposit comes from a slightly altered email address
- Request is marked urgent and asks payroll to process the change before the next pay cycle
- Employee did not actually send the request and is unaware of the change
- 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
- ✓Always verify direct deposit change requests through a phone call to the employee using a known number, not the one in the email.
- ✓Implement a policy requiring in-person or video verification for any payroll banking changes.
- ✓If your paycheck was diverted, notify your employer, bank, and file a report with the FBI at ic3.gov immediately.
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 FBI reported that business email compromise, including payroll diversion, caused losses of 2.9 billion USD in 2023, making it the costliest cybercrime category.
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.
- ✓Always verify direct deposit change requests through a phone call to the employee using a known number, not the one in the email.
- ✓Implement a policy requiring in-person or video verification for any payroll banking changes.
- ✓If your paycheck was diverted, notify your employer, bank, and file a report with the FBI at ic3.gov immediately.
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 FBI reported that business email compromise, including payroll diversion, caused losses of 2.9 billion USD in 2023, making it the costliest cybercrime category.
FBI IC3 Annual Report 2024
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
Remote workers, Freelancers, Corporate employees
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Email — Remote worker scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Remote workers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number 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 FBI reported that business email compromise, including payroll diversion, caused losses of 2.9 billion USD in 2023, making it the costliest cybercrime category.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 Annual Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers
How does the payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers work?+
Scammers gain access to an employee's email through phishing or create a spoofed email address that closely mimics the employee's real address. They send a request to payroll or HR asking to update direct deposit information to a new bank account controlled by the scammer. Paychecks are diverted to the scammer's account, and the employee may not notice until they check their bank on payday.
What are the warning signs of payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers?+
Email request to change direct deposit comes from a slightly altered email address Request is marked urgent and asks payroll to process the change before the next pay cycle Employee did not actually send the request and is unaware of the change
What should I do if I encounter payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers?+
Always verify direct deposit change requests through a phone call to the employee using a known number, not the one in the email. Implement a policy requiring in-person or video verification for any payroll banking changes. If your paycheck was diverted, notify your employer, bank, and file a report with the FBI at ic3.gov immediately.
Who is most at risk for payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers?+
This scam primarily targets Remote workers, Freelancers, Corporate employees. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Email.
Is payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers on the rise?+
payroll redirect scam targeting remote workers is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. 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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