A sudden bank-detail change on an invoice is a top business-fraud signal (business email compromise). Paste it for a read — but verify by phone too.
Quick answer — Always verify any change to payment details out-of-band — call a known contact at the vendor. Treat email-only bank-detail changes as fraud until confirmed.
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Why it's dangerous
Scammers hijack or spoof a real vendor's emails and quietly change the payment account, so your payment goes to them. The invoice can look completely normal otherwise.
What to do
Never act on a bank-detail change from email alone. Confirm by calling the vendor on a number you already have (not one from the new invoice) before sending anything.
If you already paid or shared your info
Don't panic — acting quickly limits the damage. Do these now:
Paid by gift card, wire, or crypto? Contact the gift-card issuer, wire service, or exchange right away — some transactions can still be stopped — and keep the receipts and card numbers.
Entered a card number or paid online? Call your bank to freeze or replace the card and dispute the charge.
Typed a password or login on a linked page? Change it now — and anywhere you reused it — and turn on two-factor authentication.
Shared your SSN or other ID? Start a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov and consider a credit freeze with the three credit bureaus.
Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (and, for online scams, the FBI at ic3.gov).
FAQ
How do I avoid invoice / bank-change fraud?
Always verify any change to payment details out-of-band — call a known contact at the vendor. Treat email-only bank-detail changes as fraud until confirmed.
Official sources
This guidance is compiled from official U.S. government sources. For your specific situation, verify directly:
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