PDF, also known as Business Email Compromise (BEC) or Mandate Fraud, involves criminals impersonating others, creating or amending invoices and diverting payments to bank accounts under their own control. This can target both businesses and individuals.
PDF is an insidious, calculated crime where fraudsters target a specific individual, creating or amending invoices and diverting payments to bank accounts under their own control. Find out how to protect yourself and your business.
PDF affects all types of businesses and individuals. However, due to the targeted nature of this fraud type, small to medium sized businesses and those buying houses are particularly vulnerable. Learn how to stay safe.
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/payment-diversion-fraud
Protect yourself and your business against PDF, by identifying the following
Red Flags of PDF:
• Have you been asked to urgently process a payment that is large or unusual?
• Have you been asked to change the bank details of an existing supplier or to set
up a new supplier?
• Is the language used in the email inconsistent with that of the genuine sender?
• Does the body of the email or email address contain spelling mistakes?
If you have any doubt about the transaction then do not transfer the money.
PAYMENT DIVERSION FRAUD – CONVEYANCING
Criminals are actively targeting property purchases, with the aim of tricking you into transferring them your house deposit and/or the balance of purchase monies to them
These schemes can be highly sophisticated, and almost always involve the criminals pretending to be your lawyer in order to con you into diverting your payment to an account they control.
Be extremely vigilant if there appears to be any change of payment details, and always double-check by calling your lawyer before you transfer your money, as emails can be intercepted or diverted.
You can test the account by sending a small sum to the account details provided and check that your lawyer has received this before transferring all of the money.
Victims can lose hundreds of thousands of pounds, and may never get their money back.STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
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