Recent News

Who falls for these scams? An initial guess might suggest that it’s small businesses with unsophisticated accounting methods and practices, but the reality is much different. Below are links to recent news stories related to phony invoice fraud.

• September, 2012 — Bank Security Head Jailed for £2.5 Million Invoice Fraud
  Head of Fraud and Security is found guilty of defrauding her employer. During a 4-year span, Jessica Harper, 50, submitted false invoices and collected payments that totaled nearly $4 million.

• August, 2012 — Yellow Pages Scam Targets Small Business Owners
  The phony Yellow Pages scam strikes again…8 years after the business closed its doors.

• August, 2012 — $185,000 Fake Papers
  Fake invoices and bank statements are used to trick investors.

• July, 2012 — Ozark Business Owner Sentenced for $6.7 Million Bank Fraud
  Business man falsely inflates invoices sold to bank and receives 5+ years in prison and more than $6M in fines.

• July, 2012 — Thousands Fall Victim to Scam on Utility Aid
  National scam on government utility aid has customers giving personal information and paying invoices with fake bank account numbers.

• July, 2012 — California Whacks Environmental Firm
  California-based environmental firm is under fire for submitting phonies to the state for cleaning up leaky underground gas tanks.

• June, 2012 — FAA Contractor Admits to Stealing $1 Million
  Federal Aviation Administration Contractor Steals $1 million via bogus health insurance claims.

• June, 2012 — Lawyer charged with theft in fraudulent billing case
  New York lawyer allegedly scams $9 million from employer in phony invoices.

• May, 2012 — NY A.G. Schneiderman Issues “Alert” Warning of Fake Invoices
  State attorney generals are issuing warnings for organizations to keep an eye out for this phony.

•  May, 2012 — Phony Invoices SOS
  Growing complaints for New York company, Strategic Business Communications, and its phony invoices scam.

• May, 2012 — Small-Town Comptroller Accused Of Stealing $53 Million
  The AP writes: Federal prosecutors allege Crundwell created phony invoices that she characterized as being from the state of Illinois.

• March, 2012 — FBI Arrests Two For Defrauding Lionsgate, Buying Mercedes
  Senior buyer at Lionsgate Entertainment almost pulls off a $2M advertising invoice scam targeting Lionsgate Entertainment in March 2012.

• March, 2012 — Competition Bureau Offers Tips to Businesses During Fraud Prevention Month
  The Competition Bureau provides businesses with a list of things to consider that will help protect your organization from fraud.

• February, 2012 — Trojan scoops 20k archives in one week
  A Trojan discovered in February 2012 stole upwards of 20K archives and is spreading across the globe.

• February, 2012 — False invoice scam nets $650,000 from Curtin University
  A woman is jailed and another faces a similar outcome for their respective roles in a “criminal enterprise” that netted about $650,000 from Curtin University in Australia.

• January, 2012 — Phony toner scam warning
  The BBB of Northern Indiana is warning businesses about a scam involving fake orders for printer toner.

• January, 2012 — Fake ADA invoices being faxed to dentists.
  The ADA is warning its members about fraudulent invoices that were faxed across the U.S.

• January, 2012 — NY Bookkeeper Accused of $1M Theft using Phony Invoices
  A woman in charge of managing finances at the Archdiocese of New York managed to steal about $1 million from the church by depositing checks for phony invoices into accounts she controlled.

• December, 2011 — Beware of Amazon Shipping Scam.
  The BBB is warning businesses about an Amazon shipping scam sent via email.

• November, 2011 — Nun gets reimbursed $850,000 using Phony Invoices.
  A nun stole more than $850,000 from Iona College while she was in charge of the school’s finances.

• June, 2011 — Auto Dealers Beware.
  The BBB warns auto dealers of a phony invoice scam from “AutoMotive Services,Inc.”

• April, 2011 — Conde Nast hit for $7.9 million.
  Prestigious publishing company Condé Nast was out nearly $8 million after a man in Alvin, Texas concocted an email scam in late 2010.

• June, 2010 — Best Buy pays over $900,000.
  A Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to defrauding Richfield-based Best Buy Co. out of more than $900,000 in a 2010 billing scheme.

• September, 2003 — Phony Invoices Target Domain Name Holders.
  The BBB warns businesses of phony domain renewal and registration scams.