What are they?
False billing scams usually involve fraudsters asking you or your business to pay fake invoices for directory listings, advertising or supplies that you didn’t order.
They may even send you emails made to look like they are from someone you know, such as your boss, your supplier or your customer, requesting payment be made to an account which is under their control.
Fraudsters often target busy office environments or accounts departments, hoping they won’t have time to question their legitimacy.
Signs of a false billing scam
- You receive an invoice from a company or customer you’ve been dealing with saying they have changed their payment details.
- You receive an email or phone call from a business directory you’ve never heard of confirming an entry or advertisement.
- You get a letter or an invoice requesting payment for a domain registration or renewal.
- You receive an invoice for goods or services you didn’t order.
How to protect yourself or business
- If you receive an invoice with new payment details, call the company on their genuine number. Don’t use the number in the email, it’s likely to belong to the fraudster.
- Always check that goods or services were both ordered and delivered before paying an invoice.
- Always get proof of directory entries before paying anything and never pay for an entry or advertisement you didn’t approve.
- If you are happy with your current domain name, simply ignore any other ‘renewal’ or ‘registration’ letters that you may receive.
If you think you have been the victim of a false billing scam, you should:
- Contact us immediately on (08) 8202 7777
- Report it to ASIC and the police via cyber.gov.au
- Be wary of follow up scams.
- Change your passwords and PINs straight away if you suspect your security has been compromised.
- Contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 or via idcare.org. IDCARE is a free, Government-funded service that provides support to victims of identity crime
- Visit the Scamwatch website for more information on scams.