Vendor payment change scam

What it means

A scammer pretends to be a real vendor, contractor, landlord, or service provider and asks you to send future payments to a new account.

Example

An email says a contractor changed banks and asks you to use new wire instructions for the next invoice.

Warning signs

• Payment details change by email only.
• The request happens right before payment is due.
• The sender discourages phone verification.
• The new account name does not match the vendor.

Safer next steps

• Call the vendor using a known phone number.
• Require a second approval for payment changes.
• Do not use contact details from the suspicious email.
• Delay payment until the change is verified.