Business email compromise is a scam where criminals impersonate a company, manager, supplier or support team to request a payment or change bank details. Do not trust an email alone. Verify any payment instruction using a known phone number or official contact before sending money or crypto.
How does a fake payment-instruction scam work?
A scammer may use a lookalike email address, compromise a real inbox or send an urgent request shortly before a payment is due. They often ask for a new account number, wallet address or “updated” invoice.
What are the main warning signs?
- Urgency, secrecy or pressure to skip normal checks.
- A slight change in an email domain or sender name.
- New bank details or a new crypto wallet address.
- An instruction to move the conversation away from official support.
How should you verify payment instructions?
Call a verified number already on your records. Do not call a number inside the suspicious email. Confirm the full account or wallet details, then review every character before approval. See how to avoid crypto scams in Nigeria and the crypto exchange hack checklist for further safeguards.
Frequently asked questions
Is a real-looking email safe?
No. Email appearance alone does not prove that an instruction is legitimate.
Should I send crypto to a replacement address from email?
No. Verify through an independent official channel first.
What should I do after sending to a suspected scam address?
Contact the relevant platform’s official support immediately and keep transaction records.
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