A discreet scam is now targeting employees instead of companies. A simple message is enough to divert an entire paycheck.
Fraud attempts are becoming more and more varied. Smishing, fake bank advisors, phishing, or parcel scams: scammers are exploiting every digital or administrative flaw. Some old techniques are reappearing in more targeted versions. And sometimes, all it takes is a simple, well-written email to trap a company or embezzle money. Both employees and employers can be targeted, often without even realizing it.
The first case of a “wage theft” scam was recently reported in France. It is based on the same principle as bank account change fraud, usually used to trap companies when paying suppliers. This time, the scammer is directly targeting an employee. He contacts the employer and asks, pretending to be the victim, to change the bank details of the account to which the payroll is to be paid. The message can be very convincing, especially if the scammer has personal information gleaned online.
The scammer assumes the identity of an employee to have their salary paid into another account
The hacker can recover data through hacking, social media, or information leaks. He then sends an email to the HR department simulating an urgent request to change the account. If no checks are made, the salary goes to a third-party account, often abroad. The employee, however, discovers the lack of payment too late. A similar scam had already been observed at the end of 2024, particularly in a teleworking context, where digital exchanges make this type of fraud easier to carry out.
To protect themselves against this, companies must implement a strict protocol: any request for a bank change must be made via a direct call or secure exchange with the employee. It is also recommended to train administrative teams to detect this type of fraud. For employees, limiting the dissemination of personal information and regularly checking bank statements remains essential. In case of doubt or anomaly, you must immediately contact the company and its bank to block or contest the transaction before it is too late. We have just received our first report of a “wage theft” scam! Bad news: it can happen to almost any employee. Good news: there are solutions.
Here's what you (and especially your employer) need to know 🔽 pic.twitter.com/3Vm4t3rBI3
— Signal-Arnaques (@SignalArnaques) May 5, 2025
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