Your supplier changed its bank details. What should you check?

Pause the payment workflow

Keep the original instruction and the new one. Record what changed: beneficiary name, account number, bank, branch, country, currency or payment route. Do not post the documents in a public group or paste full bank details into a waitlist form.

Confirm the change through an independent channel

Use contact details already established through a trustworthy source, or independently obtain them from the business's official website or secure app. Do not rely on a phone number supplied only in the message requesting the change. Ask the business to confirm the new details and the reason for the change. Scamwatch recommends this independent check when payment information changes.

Ask who will receive the money

Does the new beneficiary match the invoice seller? If not, ask for a written explanation of the relationship and evidence supporting authority to collect this payment. Keep the answer tied to your invoice or order. A vague response such as “our finance company” leaves the relationship unresolved.

Separate questions that need different evidence

Confirming that an employee intended to send an instruction is different from confirming who owns the account. Company registration checks, invoice comparison and bank-account verification answer different questions. None by itself establishes the quality of the goods, the authenticity of every document or a guarantee against fraud.

If you already paid and suspect a redirection

Contact your bank immediately through a trusted channel and explain the suspected payment redirection. Preserve the messages, invoice versions and transfer reference. Do not wait for a future ChinaTradeCheck report or pay someone who guarantees recovery. The bank can explain what action is available for your particular transfer.

Sources: Scamwatch, business email compromise https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/business-email-compromise-scams; fake business invoice alert https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/about-us/news-and-alerts/scam-alert-fake-business-invoice-scams. The workflow is editorial guidance and does not determine whether a specific payment is safe.