When you are the one paying.
WHAT TO VERIFY BEFORE PAYING ANYONE
That you know who you are paying That the details came from a verified source That the invoice is genuine
INVOICE FRAUD
A fake invoice appearing to come from a real supplier.
Frequently for a plausible amount and a genuine-sounding service.
WHAT TO CHECK
Whether you actually ordered it Whether the supplier is one you use Whether the details match what you have on file
WHAT TO PUT IN PLACE
A rule that invoices are checked against orders before payment.
A rule that new supplier details are verified by phone.
FOR RECURRING PAYMENTS
Check periodically that they are still legitimate and still needed.
FOR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Review what you are paying for annually.
Businesses frequently pay for services they stopped using.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Invoices arriving at a busy time Small amounts that pass without scrutiny Anything requiring immediate payment
WHO SHOULD APPROVE
For larger amounts, someone other than the person who received the invoice.
