How do I verify an invoice is genuinely from the seller and not a spoofed version from a third party?
Short answer: Contact the seller directly through a separate, previously-established communication channel, not by replying to the invoice email itself, to confirm the invoice and, critically, the payment details before sending money — invoice spoofing and interception scams specifically rely on you trusting the document itself rather than independently confirming it with the seller.
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Browse Listings →Why replying to the same email isn’t verification
If an invoice has been intercepted or spoofed, replying to that same email thread often goes straight back to the scammer, not the real seller — genuine verification means reaching the seller through a different channel entirely, like a phone number or messaging thread you already had before this invoice arrived.
What specifically to confirm
The total amount and material details matter, but the payment details — bank account or payment method — are the highest-risk element to verify, since this is exactly what invoice interception scams alter while leaving everything else looking normal.
When to be most cautious
Be especially careful if payment details in an invoice have changed from a previous transaction with the same seller, or if you’re asked to pay to a different account “due to a change,” without a clear, independently-confirmed reason.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Payments processed through ScrapTrade’s own platform and escrow system don’t rely on trusting a separate emailed invoice’s payment details at all, which removes this specific vulnerability entirely.
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