$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
vendor invoice payment redirect scam
Scammers impersonate a trusted vendor and send a fake notice that banking details have changed, diverting legitimate invoice payments to a fraudulent account.
“email scam”
↑ 1%Key indicators
Usually targetsAccounts payable teams
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionGlobal
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$90K
median reported loss
Typical range$9.0K – $900K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports21,489
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers compromise or spoof a vendor's email and send a notice about updated banking information
2
The accounts payable team updates the payment records and sends the next payment to the scammer's account
3
The fraud is only discovered when the real vendor follows up about missing payments, often weeks later
What to do first
Always verify bank account change requests by calling the vendor at a number from your existing records
Related terms
invoice redirect fraudvendor bank change scamsupplier payment diversionBusiness email compromiseEmailStableAccounts payable teamsSmall business ownersFinance teamsFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsGlobalinvoice redirect fraudvendor bank change scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Thomas, 35, a accounts payable teams, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate business email compromise situation while using Email. Scammers compromise or spoof a vendor's email and send a notice about updated banking information
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The accounts payable team updates the payment records and sends the next payment to the scammer's account
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The fraud is only discovered when the real vendor follows up about missing payments, often weeks later
The outcome
Thomas realized something was wrong when vendor email requesting a change of bank account details for future payments. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Always verify bank account change requests by calling the vendor at a number from your existing records Thomas's experience shows why vendor email requesting a change of bank account details for future payments and email comes from a slightly different domain or reply-to address than usual are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Vendor email requesting a change of bank account details for future payments
- Email comes from a slightly different domain or reply-to address than usual
- Urgency to update payment details before the next invoice is due
- 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 bank account change requests by calling the vendor at a number from your existing records
- ✓Implement a formal process requiring verbal confirmation for any payment detail changes
- ✓Contact your bank immediately if a fraudulent transfer is suspected as there is a narrow window for recovery
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 IC3 identifies vendor invoice manipulation as one of the most common BEC variants, responsible for billions in losses
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 bank account change requests by calling the vendor at a number from your existing records
- ✓Implement a formal process requiring verbal confirmation for any payment detail changes
- ✓Contact your bank immediately if a fraudulent transfer is suspected as there is a narrow window for recovery
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 IC3 identifies vendor invoice manipulation as one of the most common BEC variants, responsible for billions in losses
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. Global has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
Report cross-border scams
econsumer.gov (ICPEN)
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network portal for reporting cross-border online scams. Reports are shared with consumer protection agencies in 40+ countries.
Interpol financial crime guidance
Interpol
International policing guidance on online financial fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud operating across borders.
Report phishing emails
Anti-Phishing Working Group
Global industry coalition for reporting phishing emails and URLs. Forward phishing to [email protected].
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Accounts payable teams, Small business owners, Finance teams
Geographic concentration
Global
Primary channel
Email — Business email compromise
Why this group is vulnerable
Accounts payable teams 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 FBI IC3 identifies vendor invoice manipulation as one of the most common BEC variants, responsible for billions in losses
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about vendor invoice payment redirect scam
How does the vendor invoice payment redirect scam work?+
Scammers compromise or spoof a vendor's email and send a notice about updated banking information The accounts payable team updates the payment records and sends the next payment to the scammer's account The fraud is only discovered when the real vendor follows up about missing payments, often weeks later
What are the warning signs of vendor invoice payment redirect scam?+
Vendor email requesting a change of bank account details for future payments Email comes from a slightly different domain or reply-to address than usual Urgency to update payment details before the next invoice is due
What should I do if I encounter vendor invoice payment redirect scam?+
Always verify bank account change requests by calling the vendor at a number from your existing records Implement a formal process requiring verbal confirmation for any payment detail changes Contact your bank immediately if a fraudulent transfer is suspected as there is a narrow window for recovery
Who is most at risk for vendor invoice payment redirect scam?+
This scam primarily targets Accounts payable teams, Small business owners, Finance teams. It is most commonly reported in Global and typically appears on Email.
Is vendor invoice payment redirect scam still active?+
vendor invoice payment redirect scam is currently on our watch list. It has been reported across US, UK, 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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