Fake Procurement Scams
Bogus purchase orders, often impersonating large firms or institutions, that lead to unpaid goods.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Fake procurement scams impersonate a reputable company, university, or government body to place a large purchase order on credit. Goods are shipped to a drop address and never paid for, leaving the supplier out of pocket.
How it works
Using spoofed emails and forged purchase orders, scammers order goods on credit terms from a supplier, citing the prestige of the 'buyer'. Goods are delivered to a controlled address; the invoice is never paid and the 'buyer' never authorised it.
Common red flags
- Large credit order from a new 'prestigious' buyer
- Delivery to an address that doesn't match the organisation
- Email domain that isn't the organisation's official one
- Pressure to ship quickly on credit
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
On behalf of [well-known institution], please supply [goods] on 30-day terms, ship to [address].
Payment methods used
- Goods obtained on credit (never paid)
Who is usually targeted
- Suppliers and wholesalers
- Equipment vendors
What to do immediately
- Verify orders via the organisation's official procurement contacts
- Confirm delivery addresses and apply credit checks
- Hold shipment if anything is unverified; report fraud
Evidence to preserve
- Purchase order and emails
- Delivery details
- Buyer contact records
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
How do we verify a large purchase order?
Contact the buying organisation through its official procurement department (not details on the order), confirm the authoriser, verify the delivery address, and apply credit checks before shipping on terms.