An email that looks familiar arrives: “We have updated our bank details, please transfer to the new account.” The tone is convincing, the signature matches, and the payment belongs to a sizeable bulk argan oil order. This is the classic payment-detail-change scam aimed at importers and distributors, and it is usually discovered only after the money has left the account.
Below is a simple check to apply before every transfer, plus what to ask your manufacturer so that payment details live in a signed document rather than a passing message.
Why are bulk orders targeted?
- Large sums in a single transfer: deposit before production, balance before shipping.
- Long email threads that third parties can copy or intercept.
- Predictable timing: the fraudster writes when payment is due.
- Two countries, two languages, two currencies: a bank change raises fewer eyebrows.
What does a fake message look like?
- A sender address very close to the real one (one letter swapped, a slightly different domain).
- Urgency, such as “so we can ship today”.
- A beneficiary name that differs from the company on the contract or proforma invoice.
- An account in a country unrelated to the supplier.
- A vague excuse (“audit in progress”, “bank change”).
- Reluctance to speak by phone.
| Signal | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| New account with no notice | A genuine change is normally announced formally in writing | Pause payment and confirm |
| Different beneficiary | Funds may go to an unrelated party | Compare the name with the contract |
| Slightly altered email domain | Possible impersonation | Compare with earlier correspondence |
| Time pressure | It stops you from checking | Say payment follows confirmation |
The double-confirmation rule before every transfer
- Compare the requested account with the details in the signed contract or proforma invoice you previously approved.
- If anything differs, stop and do not reply to that same message.
- Call a number you already held before the message (contract, official website, earlier call), never the number in the suspicious email.
- Ask a second person at the factory to confirm.
- Check that the beneficiary name matches the legal company name in the contract.
- Record the confirmation in the order file: date, who you spoke to, and the channel.
Apply this to every payment, not just the first. A fraudster may wait for the third order, when vigilance has slipped.
Anchor payment details in documents
Bank details belong in a signed document. Agree from the start that any change requires a written request on company letterhead, signed by an authorised person, followed by a phone confirmation. When choosing between a deposit and a letter of credit, see our guide to export payment terms for cosmetics. A letter of credit can reduce this risk because banks check the documents, but it comes with fees and conditions.
What to ask your manufacturer
- A named confirmation channel and two authorised contacts.
- A consistent beneficiary name matching the legal entity.
- Advance written notice if the bank genuinely changes.
- Financial emails only from the official company domain.
- A receipt after each payment.
If you have any doubt about who you are dealing with, first read how to verify who really supplies your argan oil.
Check your own side too
- No single person should be able to add a beneficiary and release the payment.
- Keep an approved beneficiary list, edited only after a confirmation call.
- Train the finance team: declining a transfer is better than apologising for one.
- Protect email with strong passwords and two-step verification.
If you paid the wrong account
- Call your bank at once and ask for a recall of the transfer.
- Keep the transfer receipt and every message.
- Tell the manufacturer through a separate, trusted channel.
- Report it to the competent authority in your country.
Recovery is never guaranteed, so prevention is far cheaper.
FAQ
Can I call the number in the email signature?
No. A fraudster can put their own number there. Use a number from an independent source.
Is a small test transfer useful?
No. If the account is fraudulent, even the small sum is lost. Confirm first.
What if the factory really has changed banks?
Apply the same steps. A serious manufacturer will understand these checks.
Is a letter of credit safer?
It adds a bank check, but with fees and lead time. The right choice depends on the order.
In short
Fraud needs only a convincing message and a rushed buyer. Fix bank details in a signed document, confirm every change by phone, and log each step. To plan your order, request a quote and agree the confirmation channel up front, or learn more about Assil Ouargane.
