If a vendor changes their bank details, call before you pay
An email saying a vendor changed their bank account and payments should go to a new one is a scam until you verify it by phone.
If an email shows up saying a vendor changed their bank account and future payments should go to a new one, stop. Do not reply to that email. Do not pay yet.
This is one of the simplest scams to run and one of the hardest to undo. The email can look perfect — right logo, right name, right invoice attached. Once the money goes to the wrong account, it is usually gone.
Build one rule into your office and tell every person who touches payments: any change to bank details, payment instructions, or direct deposit gets verified by phone first. Use the number you already have on file, not a number in the email. Call, ask them to confirm the change out loud, and only then update your records.
It takes two minutes. It feels awkward the first time. Do it anyway.
Real vendors will not be offended that you checked. The fake ones are counting on you being too busy to.
— Alan
Valhalla Technology Services
(361) 704-1373
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