Practice Areas

Invoice fraud is a deceptive practice where criminals trick individuals or businesses into paying fake invoices. Scammers impersonate legitimate companies or service providers and send seemingly authentic payment requests.

These fraudulent invoices may be sent via email, mail, or even text message. Scammers may claim payment is overdue, threaten legal action, or demand immediate settlement to pressure victims into paying without questioning the source.

Once payment is made, the scammers often disappear without a trace. In some cases, fraudsters also use the payment information to commit identity theft, causing further financial harm.

Common Types of Invoice Fraud

PayPal Invoice Scams / Intuit Invoice Scams

These scams involve abusing legitimate platforms like PayPal. Scammers use PayPal's own invoicing tool to send payment requests that appear legitimate. They often include fake customer service contact information in the seller notes, so that when victims try to inquire or cancel the invoice, they unknowingly contact the scammers directly.

Email Invoice Scams

This type of scam relies on phishing emails that appear to come from genuine companies. Victims receive what looks like a normal invoice, but it is entirely fraudulent. Scammers may spoof company email addresses or impersonate directors, especially when targeting work email addresses.

Amazon Invoice Scams / Apple Invoice Scams

Victims receive fake invoices that appear to come from Amazon or Apple, typically claiming they purchased an expensive item. These fake invoices are designed to provoke a reaction, falsely claiming the recipient ordered an expensive phone, tablet, or desktop computer. The message may encourage victims to cancel the order, which actually leads them into the scammers' trap, tricking them into providing bank account or login information to cancel a fake order.

Antivirus Invoice Scams

These scams claim the victim's antivirus subscription has expired or that their device is at risk. The fake invoice may include contact information for "support," which actually directs the victim to the scammers. They then trick victims into paying for unnecessary services or installing malware used to steal banking information and security credentials.