A small-business invoice check before the payment run
A convincing invoice can reach a busy business at exactly the moment someone wants to clear the payment queue. Verification should focus on the order and bank details, not the appearance of the PDF.
Match the underlying work
Confirm the supplier, purchase order or agreed service, amount and due date. Ask the person who authorised the purchase if anything is unclear. Keep unfamiliar invoices out of the routine payment batch until checked.
Verify changed details separately
If a supplier requests a new payment account, call an established contact using details already on file. Do not use only the phone number printed in the change request. Record who verified the change and when.
Make exceptions visible
A small approval checklist helps when the usual staff member is away. Give employees permission to pause an urgent request that bypasses the process. The FTC has highlighted fake-invoice approaches in its scam alerts; the practical response is a consistent internal check rather than asking staff to identify every visual sign of a forgery. If payment has gone to a suspected fraudster, contact the financial provider promptly and preserve the records.
Sources & further reading
Source material and official guidance. Original practical suggestions are editorial content, not statements from the organisations below. Checked September 14, 2026.
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