Fake Unpaid Invoice Scams on Email
Fraudsters email businesses invoices for goods or services never ordered, relying on busy finance teams to pay them as routine obligations.
Part of: Fake Unpaid Invoice Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake unpaid invoice scams use email to send bills for products or services a business never ordered, betting that a busy accounts-payable team will process them without checking. The invoice is designed to look routine, blending into the steady flow of genuine supplier billing.
Email suits the scam because invoices arrive there constantly and are often handled at volume. A plausible amount, a familiar-sounding supplier name, and professional formatting can carry a fraudulent invoice through approval, especially in organisations without tight matching controls.
How this scam works on Email
The business receives an emailed invoice for office supplies, advertising, software, directory listings, or similar, sometimes from a name resembling a real supplier. The amount is usually modest enough to avoid heavy scrutiny but worthwhile in aggregate across many targets.
The invoice references vague or generic goods and services and may include a 'past due' notice to imply an existing obligation. It relies on the recipient assuming a colleague placed the order, or on weak controls that pay invoices without matching them to a purchase order.
If paid, the money goes to the fraudster for goods or services that were never ordered or delivered. The scam often repeats, sending follow-up invoices or escalating reminders to extract further payments.
Common red flags
- An invoice for goods or services no one can confirm ordering
- A supplier name that vaguely resembles a real one
- Vague descriptions such as generic supplies, listings, or advertising
- A 'past due' label implying an obligation that cannot be traced
- No matching purchase order or delivery record
- Follow-up reminders pressuring quick payment
How to protect yourself
- Match every invoice to a purchase order and a delivery record before paying
- Maintain an approved-supplier list and query invoices from unknown senders
- Require staff to confirm who authorised any disputed order
- Treat vague descriptions and unexpected 'past due' notices as warnings
- Centralise invoice approval to prevent unchecked payments
- Verify unfamiliar suppliers through independent registration records
How to report it
- Report the invoice to your national consumer protection or fraud body
- Notify your bank if a payment was made
- Preserve the email and invoice and alert your finance and security teams
Frequently asked questions
We received an invoice marked 'past due' for something we do not recall ordering. What now?
Do not pay until you can match it to a genuine purchase order and delivery. A 'past due' label is often used to imply an obligation that does not exist. Check with the team that would have ordered it and verify the supplier independently.