Your accounts payable staff sort through the mail, check the invoices, and for the most part, just make sure things get paid on time. But what if a fake invoice came in the door...in other words, what if you’d been billed by a stranger for goods you never ordered or haven’t received? And what’s worse, what if the scamming company shows your name as the authorized person on the invoice? Take a look at this fake invoice, and ask yourself whether you or your staff would question them.

Invoice (PDF; 1.9 MB; 2 Pages)

Could you spot this fake?

The logo is the same as the real "walking fingers" logo, but it is going in the opposite direction...also the company name is slightly different. Intentionally deceptive.

And so what? It’s not a big amount right? Well, the first one might not be. But they will add up over time. Your staff might not worry about it because of the small amount and pay the bill. The fraudulent vendors are then on your vendor lists. That means the next invoice is more likely to be paid without question.

What’s more, your organization is now on a "sucker list" and your business information could be shared with other fraudsters, who will target you in future schemes.