Fake invoice by email: pay or not?

You get an invoice or reminder by email for something you never ordered, or from a provider you are unsure about? Do not pay hastily under any circumstances. Many of these invoices are fake or phishing.

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Your chances of getting your money back

You do not have to pay an unjustified invoice just because it arrives. Without a contract there is no obligation to pay, and fake invoices only aim to make you transfer money out of reflex.

Especially dangerous: deceptively real invoices from well-known brands with a changed IBAN, or attachments or links that open malware or phishing pages.

What you should do now

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1. Do not pay, do not click
Transfer nothing and do not open any attachments or links from the email. Threats with a short deadline in particular are meant to build pressure.
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2. Check the sender and IBAN
Does the sender address match exactly? Does the IBAN fit the supposed company, or is it a foreign or unfamiliar IBAN? Even small deviations expose the forgery.
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3. Ask a genuine provider directly
If you are unsure, contact the provider via the official website or phone number, never via the contact details from the suspicious email.
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4. Report it
Forward phishing to the consumer advice center (phishing radar) and file a complaint if there is damage.

How to spot the scam

An invoice or reminder for something you never ordered.
A well-known brand name, but a deviating sender address or an unfamiliar IBAN.
A very short payment deadline, threats of debt collection, an attachment in .zip or .exe format.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay an invoice for something I never ordered?

No. Without an underlying contract there is no obligation to pay. It is best not to respond with a payment at all, but to check the sender and IBAN, and only object if a genuine company actually demands something from you.

How do I recognize a fake invoice?

Typical signs are: a false or slightly altered sender address, an unfamiliar or foreign IBAN, an impersonal salutation, spelling mistakes, unusual attachments and threats with a very short deadline. When in doubt, ask the provider via the official website.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.