Relay Wire Scam - How to Protect Yourself

Types of "Relay Wire" Scams

• Fake Billing / Invoice Scam: An unauthorized company under the name "Relay Wire" sends fake invoices (often for hundreds of dollars) to business fax lines or accounts payable departments, claiming it covers professional fax, data archiving, or infrastructure services.

• Telecommunications Relay Fraud (IP Relay): Scammers use the Telecommunications Relay Service (meant for individuals with hearing or speech disabilities) to place orders or execute transactions using stolen credit cards, often asking the merchant to wire leftover funds or overpayments.

• Wire Instruction Redirection: Fraudsters intercept or spoof emails to trick individuals or businesses into changing wire transfer destinations, diverting funds directly into a criminal's account.

How to Protect Your Business

• Verify Invoices: Instruct your accounting team to cross-reference every bill against active, signed vendor contracts before issuing payment.

• Ignore Unsolicited Demands: Do not pay bills or fees for services your company never ordered or authorized.

• Never Wire Money to Strangers: Treat wire transfers like cash; once sent, they are extremely difficult to recover.

• Report Fraud: If you receive a fake invoice or suspect wire fraud, report it to consumer protection authorities or check warnings on the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker.