How do I recognize a fake invoice?

Ghost invoices are invoices for products or services that you have never purchased. It is nearly impossible to completely prevent receiving a ghost invoice. Other forms of fraud that your company may fall victim to include receiving an offer in the form of an invoice or doing business with someone who is not who they claim to be. How can your company avoid becoming a victim of fraud? Creditchecken provides you with useful updates.

Two types of ghost invoices:

Invoices that are not offers. These are not invoices for a provided service or product but rather a quotation. If you pay these, you enter into an agreement with the provider. Invoices for services and/or products that were never delivered. Services and/or products are intentionally or mistakenly not provided. If you receive an invoice in one of the above cases, it is important to question why you received this invoice and potentially ask the sender for the reason behind the invoice. It is important to realize that without proof of an order, you can never be obligated to make a payment.

How to recognize a ghost invoice?

Scammers are constantly finding new ways to deceive people and are becoming more creative and professional in victimizing others. Ghost invoices are often indistinguishable from genuine invoices. If you suspect that you have received a ghost invoice, it is important to evaluate it for authenticity. You can consider the following points:

• Who is the sender of the invoice? Have you placed any orders with the sender recently?
• Check the order and/or invoice number.
• Verify the email address from which the invoice was sent and ensure that it contains the correct domain name.
• To whom is the invoice addressed? If a ghost invoice is addressed to a general recipient, it is worth questioning why it is not addressed to the person who initiated the order.
• Ghost invoices often involve relatively small amounts. Scammers may assume that small amounts are less likely to be scrutinized.
• Check if the bank account number on the invoice matches any existing records in your administration. Be particularly cautious with foreign bank account numbers.
• Ghost invoices often contain fine print. They may use terms like 'quotation' while presenting it as an invoice.

Creditchecken makes business easy and secure

Creditchecken protects businesses from the damages incurred due to unpaid invoices. When you provide a service, you expect to be paid for it. Conversely, when an invoice is legitimately sent, the recipient is expected to make the payment. Creditchecken safeguards businesses from the financial risks associated with customers going bankrupt or struggling financially. Unpaid invoices are not limited to unknown or new customers. Did you know that nearly 50% of all payment defaults occur with customers with whom you have established a stable relationship? Creditchecken allows you to assess the creditworthiness of your business relationships in advance. Contact us for a non-binding consultation on how we can facilitate secure and streamlined business operations for you.