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uk Money & financial emergencies landlord sent new bank details • supplier changed bank account • new payment details email • rent bank details changed • invoice bank details changed • bank detail change request • payment diversion scam • mandate fraud • change of account scam • fake landlord payment request • urgent payment request • standing order change request • avoid paying wrong account • verify bank details independently • unexpected account change • suspicious payment instruction • bank transfer to new account • scammer posing as supplier • invoice redirection fraud

What to do if…
a landlord or supplier suddenly sends new bank details for where to pay

Short answer

Pause and assume it could be a payment-diversion scam. Don’t send money to the “new” details until you’ve independently verified them using contact information you already trust. If you’ve already paid, contact your bank immediately.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t reply to the email/text or use the phone number/link inside it to “confirm”.
  • Don’t change a standing order in your banking app just because the message looks familiar or urgent.
  • Don’t share one-time passcodes, card reader codes, or approval notifications with anyone “verifying” the change.
  • Don’t send screenshots of your bank app, card, ID, or “proof you’ve paid” beyond a basic receipt if needed.
  • Don’t let “today only”, “late fees”, or “final notice” pressure you into rushing.
  • Don’t pay an “alternative” requested method like crypto, gift cards, or a third-party “agent”.

What to do now

  1. Stop the payment and capture evidence.
    Save the message (screenshot + the full email if possible). Don’t click links or open attachments.

  2. Verify using a trusted route you choose (not theirs).
    Use a phone number/email/postal address from your existing lease/contract, a prior genuine invoice, or the official website you already know. Ask them to confirm:

    • whether their bank details changed for payments
    • the exact account name, sort code, and account number
    • when it changed and why
      If they can’t confirm via a channel you trust, treat it as unverified.

  3. Cross-check the ‘new’ details before paying anything.

    • Compare against the bank details on your lease/contract and previous genuine invoices.
    • If your bank offers Confirmation of Payee, take any mismatch warning seriously (a mismatch is a major red flag).
    • Be extra cautious if the request arrives right before a due date, comes with urgency, or asks you to keep it quiet.

  4. If a payment is due soon, avoid sending money to the wrong place.
    Use one of these safer options while you verify (choose what matches your agreement and what you can do safely):

    • Pay via the existing, known-good method you’ve used before (only if it’s still working and you’re confident it’s genuinely theirs).
    • Ask for a short grace period via a trusted contact route, explaining you’re verifying a potential scam.
    • If you can’t safely pay yet, set the money aside (don’t spend it) and keep a clear record of your attempts to verify and contact them.

  5. If you already paid the new details, act fast with your bank.
    Call your bank immediately using the number on your card/app/statement. Tell them you think it’s a scam / Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud / mandate fraud, and ask them to:

    • attempt a payment recall and any other recovery steps they can take, and
    • stop any pending/future transfers you may have scheduled to those new details.

  6. Report it to the right place for where you live.

    • England, Wales or Northern Ireland: report cyber crime and fraud via Report Fraud (online or by phone).
    • Scotland: report to Police Scotland via 101.
      Keep your reference details if you get them.

  7. Watch for “recovery” follow-ups.
    If someone contacts you claiming they can recover your money for a fee or wants more bank details “to help”, treat that as another scam and stop.

What can wait

  • You don’t need to decide right now whether the landlord/supplier was “at fault” or whether to escalate a dispute.
  • You don’t need to rewrite contracts or change all your payments today—just stop this payment from going to the wrong place.
  • You don’t need to confront the sender; focus on verification and protecting your money first.

Important reassurance

This exact scenario is a common fraud pattern, and pausing to verify is a sensible response. Feeling pressured, embarrassed, or unsure is normal—banks and authorities deal with this every day.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance to prevent an irreversible loss and start the fastest recovery routes. If money has gone missing, you may need to follow your bank’s fraud process and reporting routes.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Processes vary by bank and by how you paid; if you’ve already sent money, follow your bank’s fraud team instructions even if they differ from general guidance.

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