Forgery: invoice with forged account number
In this series of articles, we describe five mini cases involving false or forged invoices. In this article we focus on an invoice with a forged account number.
On the use of false and forged* invoices: we often encounter them in our analyses of unusual transactions. Forgery is a crime in itself and can additionally be used to facilitate money laundering. That is why it is subject to reporting obligations.
In this case, a fraudster posed as a well-known supplier of a company. Using a forged invoice, the fraudster attempted to get a sum of money transferred to his own account number. The account number was the only thing that differed from the original invoices from this supplier. The fraud was so sophisticated that the company paid the forged invoice.
Accountant raises the alarm
A second attempt of the fraudster was discovered in time. An accountant noticed the planned and executed transaction while compiling the annual accounts. He reported the transaction to FIU-the Netherlands and attached the forged invoices, which were very valuable for our analyses. An FIU analyst examined the transactions and traced the actual beneficiary of the fraudulent account number.
Even more fraudulent transactions
The FIU-Netherlands database subsequently revealed many more transactions by the same person. These were all related to (online) fraud, which appeared to be taking place within a network. All transactions were combined into a single file and submitted to the investigation service for further investigation.
False and forged invoices can be used to earn money illegally. For example, with invoice fraud, criminals send false invoices in the hope that they will be paid by consumers or businesses.
However, criminals may also need false and forged invoices to launder illegally earned money or to account for it in their records.