Small business technology
How to verify changed bank details on an invoice
A calm payment check for invoices that arrive with new or unexpected bank details.
What you will learn
You'll know how to verify changed bank details before paying an invoice.
Before you continue
Payment redirection scams can use real-looking invoices and compromised email accounts.
Stop and contact your bank immediately if you already paid and later suspect the details were fraudulent.
Pause before paying
A changed bank account is a reason to slow down, even when the invoice looks familiar. Scammers can copy real invoices or use a compromised email account.
Do not rely on the email thread alone.
Compare it with your records
Check the supplier name, invoice number, amount, due date and previous payment details. Look for small changes in the sender address, wording or account name.
A tiny difference can matter.
Verify through a trusted channel
Call the supplier using a phone number you already trust, not a number from the invoice or email. If you normally deal with a named person, contact them through the details you already have.
Ask them to confirm the new BSB, account number and account name.
Use a second-person check for larger payments
For important payments, ask another trusted person in the business to check the change before money is sent.
This is not about mistrusting staff. It gives everyone permission to pause when a payment feels urgent.
Keep a note of the check
Record who confirmed the change, how you contacted them and when the check happened. Do not store passwords or one-time codes with the note.
If money has already been sent and something feels wrong, contact your bank immediately.
What to expect
You have checked the changed payment details through a separate trusted channel before paying.
Sources and further reading
- Small business cyber security guide · Australian Signals Directorate
Supports separate verification of payment requests and changed bank details.
- False billing scams · Scamwatch
Supports warning about misleading invoices and payment requests.