Suspicious invoice? Test the numbers free

Fake Invoice: Red Flags and a Free Check

A fake invoice asks you to pay for something you never ordered, or sends your money to the wrong account. Here are the red flags, and a free check that tests the numbers on a suspicious PDF.

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PDF invoices up to 5MB

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Evidence for every finding

What the free check can tell you

Numbers that do not add up

Line totals, subtotal, tax and the amount due are recalculated. Sloppy fakes often get this wrong.

Missing basics

No invoice number, no date or no supplier name is flagged.

Repeated lines

A line charged twice with identical details is raised as a warning.

What it cannot tell you

Whether the supplier is real or the bank account is theirs. That needs the checks listed on this page.

How it works

1
Upload your PDF

Drop in a digital or scanned invoice. Nothing to install and no account needed.
2
We recalculate everything

Line totals, subtotal, tax and the grand total are rebuilt from the figures on the page.
3
Review the evidence

Each result shows the expected and printed amount and where it came from, so you can act on it.

Fake invoice red flags

Fraudulent invoices tend to share the same warning signs. One alone is not proof; several together are a reason to stop.

You do not recognise the supplier, or have no order behind the invoice.
The bank details are new or changed, especially if announced by email.
Pressure to pay quickly, such as "final notice" or "pay today".
An odd invoice number: missing, repeated, or not in the supplier's usual pattern.
Details that differ from your records: a name with one letter changed, a different address or tax ID.
No purchase order or reference where your process normally has one.
Vague or round amounts, such as "services rendered" with no breakdown.
A sender address that does not match, for example a lookalike domain or a free mailbox.
Numbers that do not add up. Run the check above to find out in seconds.

The full list, with what to do about each, is in our guide: how to identify a fake invoice.

How to check a suspicious invoice

Do not act on the message. Do not reply, click links or open unexpected attachments.
Upload the PDF to test the arithmetic and basic details.
Look up the supplier yourself. Use your own records or an independent source, not details from the invoice.
Match it to an order or delivery. A purchase order, quote, contract or delivery note.
Call to confirm. Use a phone number you already hold, particularly for bank detail changes.
Report it if it is fraudulent, and ask your bank to act if money has already left.

What a calculation check does and does not prove

A passed result means the numbers on the page agree with each other. It does not mean the invoice is real. A failed result means something is wrong, which may be a fake or may be an honest mistake; either way, do not pay until it is explained. If it turns out to be an error, see how to fix invoice errors.

Related pages

Invoice verification: confirming an invoice against your records.
Invoice validation: the document checks in detail.
Common invoice errors.

Privacy

For guests, the PDF is processed in memory and is not saved. See the security practices for details.

Frequently asked questions

What is a fake invoice?

A fake invoice is a bill that looks genuine but is not. It may bill for goods or services you never ordered, copy a real supplier's layout with a changed bank account, or invent a supplier entirely. The aim is to get it paid before anyone checks.

How can I tell if an invoice is fake?

Look for a supplier you do not recognise, changed bank details, pressure to pay fast, an invoice number that does not fit the pattern, details that differ from your records, no purchase order, vague descriptions and a sender address that does not match. Then confirm with the supplier using contact details you already hold.

Can a tool detect a fake invoice?

Not reliably. InvoiceInspect checks that the arithmetic and basic details are consistent, which catches careless fakes and honest mistakes. A careful fraudster can produce an invoice with correct maths, so always verify the supplier and the order as well.

What should I do if I think an invoice is fake?

Do not pay it and do not click links or open attachments in the message. Check it against your records, contact the supplier on a number you already have, and tell your bank and the relevant authorities in your country. If you already paid, contact your bank straight away.

Is it illegal to make a fake invoice?

Creating an invoice to deceive someone into paying is fraud in most countries. Do not make fake invoices, even as a joke or a template test.

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Fake Invoice: Red Flags and a Free Check

Analyzing Invoice

What the free check can tell you

Numbers that do not add up

Missing basics

Repeated lines

What it cannot tell you

How it works

Upload your PDF

We recalculate everything

Review the evidence

Fake invoice red flags#

How to check a suspicious invoice#

What a calculation check does and does not prove#

Related pages#

Privacy#