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What to do if…
a landlord or supplier sends unexpected new bank details for a payment

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Pause the payment. Do not send money to the new account until you confirm the change through contact information you already trust; if money has already moved, contact your bank immediately and ask what recovery or stop-payment options may be available.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t call a phone number, click a link, open an attachment, or reply using contact details in the message that announced the change.
  • Don’t update autopay, online bill pay, ACH instructions, or wire details because the message looks familiar.
  • Don’t share login codes, multi-factor authentication codes, passwords, or account access.
  • Don’t send screenshots of banking screens, checks, or identity documents to someone who contacted you unexpectedly.
  • Don’t let threats about late fees, eviction, penalties, or deadlines push you into sending money before the change is verified.
  • Don’t send money by cryptocurrency, gift card, or an unfamiliar payment app because the sender asks you to.

What to do now

  1. Pause the payment.
    Do not use the new bank details yet. Keep the money available while you check the request.

  2. Keep a copy of the message.
    Save the original email or text and note the date, time, sender address, phone number, and any payment instructions. Do not open links or attachments.

  3. Contact the landlord or supplier through a route you already trust.
    Use contact information from your signed lease, an earlier genuine invoice, a known payment portal, a saved phone number you have used before, or an official website you already know. Ask whether the payment-details change is genuine and how they want you to proceed.

  4. If the payment is due soon, do not guess.
    Tell the landlord or supplier through the trusted route that you are checking an unexpected payment-details change. Keep the funds set aside and keep a note of your attempts to contact them.

  5. If you already sent money, contact your bank immediately.
    Use the phone number on the back of your card, a recent statement, or your bank’s official app or website. Explain that you may have sent money using fraudulent payment instructions and ask what action is available:

    • For a bank wire, ask whether the bank can request a wire recall and contact the receiving financial institution.
    • For an ACH payment or online transfer, ask whether a pending payment can be stopped and what return or recovery options may be available.
    • For a payment app, contact the app company and your bank or card issuer promptly and ask what reversal or dispute options may be available.

  6. Follow your bank’s instructions.
    The bank may ask for a timeline, copies of messages, transfer details, or additional paperwork. Use contact channels you initiated yourself. Recovery is not guaranteed, but acting promptly can matter.

  7. Report the suspected scam after contacting the bank.
    File a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC’s fraud-reporting site. Reports can help agencies identify patterns and investigate scams. Keep any confirmation details you receive.

  8. Be cautious about unexpected recovery offers.
    Do not engage with anyone who unexpectedly offers to recover the money in exchange for a fee, banking details, login codes, or remote access to your device.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out whether the message came from a hacked account, a fake account, or an internal mistake before pausing the payment.
  • You do not need to change every payment arrangement today.
  • You do not need to confront the sender or make decisions about a wider dispute right now.
  • You do not need to send money until the changed instructions have been checked through a trusted route.

Important reassurance

Pausing is a reasonable response to an unexpected change in payment details. A familiar-looking message can still be fraudulent, and taking time to check the request is not an overreaction.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions may need help from your bank, a lawyer, an accountant, or another appropriate specialist depending on the payment method, the amount involved, and your agreement with the landlord or supplier.

Important note

This guide provides general information only. It is not legal, financial, banking, or professional advice. Available recovery steps depend on the payment method, timing, your bank’s procedures, and the facts of the situation.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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