We would like to warn you about a scam that is really difficult to see through. Invoices are increasingly being sent electronically in business transactions. Criminals are taking advantage of this by hacking into the email server of one of the companies involved. The invoices are intercepted by the fraudsters and the account details (IBAN) are changed. At first glance, the invoices look genuine and there is no reason to be suspicious. The work listed was actually carried out at the customer's premises. However, the money paid does not reach the company, but ends up in the fraudsters' accounts and has long since been cleared by the time the fraud is discovered.
In order not to fall for such a scam, the police advise:
- Disclose your account details in the contract and oblige the contractual partner to contact you by telephone as well as by email if the account details are (allegedly) changed.
- Pay attention to communications where changes to bank details are announced and consult with the contractual partner immediately before making the transfer (preferably by telephone using the telephone number you know).
- Be careful if the bank details have changed since the last contract was concluded.
- Be careful with bank details that begin with a different country code than the country in which the contractual partner is based.
- Pay attention to any changes in communication. Spelling mistakes, unusual formulations or an unusual change between "you" and "you" can be a sign of attempted fraud. Critically check the spelling of senders' email addresses.
- If you have been the victim of such a scam, inform your bank immediately to reclaim the money and report it to the police.