Tricks are used that are simple, but difficult to discover. The word NORDEA is changed to N0RDEA (with a zero instead of O); quite simply, an invoice is forged through use of logs and so forth; a plusgiro number in a genuine invoice is changed, or the “directory trick” is used whereby an “offer to be included in a meaningless directory on the Internet” is sent in the guise of an ordinary invoice.
Of course, such fake invoices don’t only arrive during the summer. Over a considerable period of time, smaller companies in Sweden have been receiving invoices from the Baltic companies “nummerupplysningen.se” and “bolagsupplysningen.se”. These invoices relate to an “offer” to be included in directories on the Internet on designated sites. An entirely meaningless service. The invoices that are sent are blue and yellow – the same hues as used by, for example, the Swedish Tax Agency, and confusingly resemble a form from a Swedish government agency. The company’s address details are stated, but with some detail changed, for example the telephone number. The recipient is requested to verify the information and return the invoice, and in so doing accepts the text in small print regarding a subscription contract costing thousands of kronor for a couple of years for the meaningless service. The perpetrators are sufficiently successful that they repeat the trick at regular intervals.
The amounts involved in fake invoices are also not so large, since abnormally high amounts tend to arouse greater caution, and it costs too much to complain compared with the payment one has made.
What should one do to reduce the risks?
- Check of the sender’s address – is it invoices@dhl.com or invoices-dhl@gmail.com which has sent the invoice?
- Check the bankgiro/plusgiro number – who does it go to?
- Call up the company which has purportedly sent the invoice, and check.
- Is it a supplier that is not included in your system? Check the identity of the supplier.
- Check whether the supplier is included on the Swedish Trade Federation’s warning list – Svensk Handels Varningslista >>
- Instruct any summer replacement staff and remind holders of payment authorisation rights that caution must be exercised.
If it is established that a fake invoice is involved – what should one do?
First and foremost, contest the invoice, in writing. If it is an offer that looks like an invoice, it’s best to tear it up. One must quite simply be able to show that it has been contested. One should also notify the police of this type of fraud/attempted fraud.
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Sara Malmgren, senior associate at Foyer Advokatfirman
sara.malmgren@foyen.se
