If you’ve paid a fake or changed invoice, you’re not alone, and you may be able to get your money back with the right help.
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A look at the impact of our work, set against the growing reality of invoice fraud today.
£193M+ recovered and back in the hands of those who were exploited by fraud.
11,000+ people across the UK have turned to us for support after falling for fraudulent scams.
68% of invoice scam losses in 2025 were from business accounts.
Invoice scams are a type of fraud where criminals trick individuals or businesses into paying fake invoices. The scammer pretends to be a genuine company or service provider and sends what looks like a legitimate request for payment.
These fake invoices can arrive by email, post, or even text message. They may claim that payment is overdue, threaten legal action, or demand immediate settlement to pressure victims into paying without questioning the source.
Once the payment is made, the fraudster often disappears without a trace. In some cases, scammers also use the payment details to commit identity theft, causing even more financial harm.
This type of fraud, often referred to as invoice fraud or invoicing scams, is becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to spot.
Identifying online fraud can be challenging, but here are some warning signs to watch for:
Be cautious of any invoice you weren’t expecting, especially if it’s from someone you don’t usually deal with. Always double-check the details before making payment.
Scammers may intercept genuine invoices or create convincing replicas, changing the bank details to redirect funds. If payment details suddenly change, verify them with the company directly using trusted contact information.
A common tactic in email invoice scams is creating a sense of urgency. If an invoice demands immediate payment or threatens legal action, take a moment to review it carefully before responding.
Requests to pay via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash are red flags. Legitimate businesses don’t ask for payment this way, scammers do - as they are hard to trace and recover.
Scammers may impersonate well-known brands, company directors, or trusted suppliers. If something feels off, trust your instincts and take time to check their credentials.
These scams involve real platforms, like PayPal, being misused. Fraudsters use PayPal’s own invoicing tool to send what appear to be legitimate requests for payment. They often include fake customer service contact details in the seller note, so victims unknowingly reach out to the scammer directly when trying to query or cancel the invoice.
This version of the scam relies on phishing emails that look like they’re from real companies. Victims receive what seems to be a normal invoice — but it’s completely fraudulent. Scammers may spoof company email addresses or impersonate directors, especially when targeting a work inbox.
Victims receive fake invoices that appear to be from Amazon or Apple, often claiming they’ve bought an expensive item. These fake invoices are designed to provoke a reaction – falsely claiming they have ordered an expensive phone, tablet, or computer. The message might encourage the victim to cancel the order — however doing so actually leads them right into the scammer’s hands, who then tricks them into handing over banking or login details in an effort to cancel the fake order.
These scams claim the victim’s antivirus subscription has expired or their device is at risk. The fake invoice may contain contact information for ‘support’. In reality, this connects directly to the scammer. From there, they can convince the victim to pay unnecessary fees or install malware which can be used to steal banking information and security logins.
Invoice scammers use a mix of digital tools and social engineering tactics to target their victims.
Most often, they send phishing emails or text messages to large numbers of people, hoping someone will fall for the trap. Others focus on those whose personal information has been exposed in a data breach. If your name, email, or banking details have been compromised, scammers may use this data to create a highly convincing fake invoice.
Some fraudsters go even further, cloning real websites or creating fake ones that look almost identical to trusted brands. These sites are designed to steal login credentials or payment details, and victims may not realise they’ve been scammed until it’s too late.
If you’ve paid a fake invoice, tell your bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud. Invoice scams can be very hard to spot, even for people who pay bills every day. If your bank won’t refund you, our specialist fraud team may be able to help you claim your money back. Just tell CEL.
Speak to our friendly team today. You are not alone, and you may have a case.
No honest firm can promise that. What we can do is look at what happened and tell you whether we think you have a claim. Our fraud team looks at every payment you made to the scam. If your bank could have done more to protect you, we’ll make a formal complaint to them for you. If they say no, we can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, a free, independent service that settles complaints between customers and financial businesses. You have nothing to lose by enquiring, because we can only take on cases we believe have a good chance of success – and we will always be honest about this.
Yes. You can complain to your bank yourself. If you’re unhappy with their answer, you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Both are free. Our free DIY guide shows you how, step by step. If you’d rather not do it alone, our fraud team can handle it all for you, on a no-win, no-fee basis.
When you’re dealing with a legal issue, whether it’s a scam, a housing dispute, or a case of professional negligence, it’s important to know you’re in safe hands.
We understand that many of our clients come to us after being misled, mistreated, or let down. It’s only natural to feel cautious when choosing a law firm to support you.
CEL Solicitors is a fully regulated law firm. We don’t ask for any upfront payments, and we work on a no-win, no-fee basis wherever possible, meaning you won’t pay us a penny unless your claim is successful.
You can confirm that CEL Solicitors is genuine by checking our credentials:
We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our SRA number is 633955.
CEL Solicitors is a trading name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (company number: 10370954).
You’ll find us listed on the SRA’s official Solicitors Register – just click the SRA badge at the bottom of this page or visit the SRA website.
We’re also listed on the Law Society’s ‘Find a Solicitor’ tool. This is a free and trusted way to check legal professionals.
If you’re ever unsure, just tell CEL. We’ll help you verify everything for yourself.
“No-win, no-fee” means you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges. If your claim is unsuccessful, you won’t owe us a penny. If we win, our fees will be taken from the compensation we recover for you — and we’ll explain all of this clearly before you sign anything.
It’s a simple promise: if you don’t win, you don’t pay.
At CEL Solicitors, we help clients recover money lost to a wide range of Authorised Push Payment (APP) frauds. These scams trick you into authorising payments to fraudsters, often through highly convincing stories or pressure tactics. Common types include:
Investment scams: Promises of high returns through trading, cryptocurrency, or other ‘opportunities’ that turn out to be fake.
Impersonation scams: Fraudsters posing as trusted organisations like banks, the police, HMRC, or utility companies to get you to send money.
Romance scams: Scammers build trust by pretending to be a romantic partner, often overseas, before asking for financial help.
Crypto scams: Fake cryptocurrency investments or exchanges designed to steal your funds.
Advanced fee fraud: Requests for upfront fees to release non-existent loans, prizes, or inheritances.
Purchase scams: Payment for goods or services that never arrive, such as vehicles or electronics.
Invoice scams: Fake or altered invoices sent to businesses or individuals to divert payments.
Job scams: Fraudulent job offers requiring you to pay fees or provide money upfront.
If you’ve been targeted by any of these scams or similar ones, you’re not alone — and we’re here to help you take back control and recover what you’ve lost.
Many people feel this way, especially if they made the payment themselves. But scammers are skilled at lying, and being scammed doesn’t mean you were careless. Even if your bank has refused to refund you, you may still be able to get your money back. Our fraud team knows the rules banks have to follow, and we can challenge their decision for you. If you’re worried about fault, just tell CEL.
Most of our claims are complaints against banks. First, our fraud team looks at every payment you made to the scam and checks whether your bank should have done more to protect you. If so, we make a formal complaint to your bank for you. If your bank says no, we can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, a free, independent service that settles complaints between customers and financial businesses. We’ll keep you updated at every step.
Yes, through our Crypto Investigation Report. This is a separate service from our standard fraud and scam recovery claim. It uses specialist software to show where your crypto went, and the report can be used as evidence to support a police investigation or legal action. A Crypto Investigation Report is not the same as a crypto scam claim. If you lost crypto to a scam, you may also be able to make a claim on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Your claim will be handled by our specialist fraud team. They are experts in bank and Financial Ombudsman Service complaints. They are not solicitors, but they work inside CEL Solicitors, a law firm regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Qualified solicitors oversee the team’s work, reviewing files regularly and stepping in when a case needs closer attention, including complex crypto cases. Your day-to-day contact will always be a member of our fraud team.
Your loss is the money you paid to the scam, minus anything you got back. Any “profit” or balance shown on a scam website or app is usually not real money, so it isn’t part of your loss. Payments between your own accounts can count too, if they were part of the scam.
Once we have all your evidence, our Bank team makes a formal complaint to your bank. This stage usually takes 8 to 12 weeks. If your bank says no, our Ombudsman team can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. This can take anywhere from a few months to around two years. Every case is different, and we’ll keep you updated.
Get in touch now to see how we can help you recover from fraud.