Savvy fraudsters are targeting UK SMEs with fake invoices

New research released today from Barclays reveals that one in seven (14%) SMEs have fallen victim to an invoice scam in the last 12 months. Exclusive data from the bank also shows that a quarter (28%) of reported invoice scams resulted in losses of more than £5000.

The bank’s figures also reveal that hotspots for scams include the West Midlands, the South West, the East of England and London.

To help businesses stay vigilant, Barclays is issuing a new warning against the dangers of invoice scams, issuing top tips to SMEs on how to stay safe.

Statistics reveal that many scams could be easily avoidable – only a quarter (25%) of employees processing an invoice double-checked with a colleague before making a payment, and over one fifth (24%) said they were scammed because they trusted the email address it was sent from.

The impact of such scams on businesses and individuals is considerable, with nearly one in five (18%) SME business leaders admitting that they have had to cover the full cost of a scam. Despite this, due to lack of time, only 19% say they conduct invoice training for all staff to help them spot a fake invoice.

Ian Rand, CEO of Barclays Business Banking, said: “Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated with the methods they use to target Britain’s hard-working SMEs and unfortunately, we know that impersonation fraud and invoice scams are on the rise.

“We want to arm businesses with as much information as possible on common scams so that they can avoid falling prey to fraudsters.

“Our network of over 1,500 relationship managers are delivering advice clinics to SMEs across the country – arming them with valuable information on all aspects of business resilience, including digital safety.”

Ian’s top tips to help businesses avoid invoice scams:

1. If you are paying an invoice to a bank account that you have not paid before, always call the business on a trusted number on your company files and not that on the invoice or email to check the account details are accurate. Don’t assume an email, call or text is genuine – especially if something doesn’t look right or the payment details are different. Be on your guard – only 24% of SMEs surveyed said they would call the supplier or partner they are dealing with to check that the request is legitimate.

2. Make sure that you and the employees that make your payments are equipped with the skills and knowledge to stay protected. One in ten SME employees said that they would not know how to spot a fake invoice. Find out more about how to recognise scams and protect against them on the Barclays fraud advice website.

3. Build a process to check new bank details on invoices. Have a clear procedure for making payments in your firm and get a second opinion. A third (33%) of CEOs, founders or managing directors do not get oversight on invoices before they are approved. If you’re ever unsure about the invoice you are dealing with, it’s always best to get a second pair of eyes.

4. If you feel pressured or anxious, take your time and always ask for support . When asked how falling victim to an invoice scam impacted the business, sadly, 15% said it had a significant impact on their mental health and 13 said the experience had such a severe impact that the employee responsible left the business. A legitimate company will not mind waiting, especially if it avoids putting employees in an uncomfortable position.

5. Get help from your bank.Talk to your Barclays business team or relationship manager for guidance on how to recognise and protect against common scams.

SMEs should get in touch immediately with Barclays via their business team or the direct call feature in their mobile banking app if they feel they have been the victim of a scam.
Find out more on the Barclays fraud awareness site where there are number of short videos and webinars available: https://www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking/business-insight/cyber-and-fraud-risk