Payment diversion and beneficiary changes

Warning signs when payment instructions unexpectedly change. These patterns are indicators for careful checking, not a way to determine a specific person’s conduct without evidence.

Treat changed instructions as high risk

A message may claim that a bank account or crypto address has changed. Verify using a separate, known-good channel before paying.

Inspect the full details

Confirm beneficiary name, account or wallet details, amount and purpose. A familiar email thread can be compromised.

Act quickly if money has moved

Contact the sending provider immediately and ask whether any recall or fraud process is available. Preserve the original instruction and message headers.

If a payment has already been made, contact the relevant provider using its official contact details and preserve the original records.