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Payment safety

Stop. Think.​

You are on this page because something does not feel right. Trust that feeling.

Before you pay, ask yourself one question:

Do you really know the person asking you for this money, and do you really know what it is for?

If the answer is no, or "I'm not sure", please do not pay yet. Even when you really want the thing you have been promised, it is much easier to walk away now than to get your money back after you have paid.

Fiskl is the platform that delivered this invoice to you. The person asking you for money is the business named on the invoice, not Fiskl. Paying through Fiskl does not make that business real. A few minutes reading this page could save you from losing money you may never get back.

Three questions before you pay​

Before you pay any invoice, ask yourself:

  1. Do you know who sent it? The name and contact details of the business should be clearly shown on the invoice.
  2. Do you know what it is for? The line items should describe a product or service you actually ordered or agreed to.
  3. Do you know why you are receiving it now? The amount, due date, and reason should match something you expect.

If you can answer yes to all three, the invoice is probably genuine. If you can answer no to any of them, stop and verify before paying.

tip

The single most effective fraud check is to call the business on a phone number you found yourself, not one printed on the invoice. Confirm that they sent it and that the payment details are correct.

If you don't recognise the sender​

Scammers often send invoices that look real, hoping you'll pay without checking. If the sender is unfamiliar, work through this short checklist before doing anything else:

  • Look at the business name, email address, and website shown on the invoice. Do they match a company you have dealt with?
  • Search for the company name and address independently. A real business will have an online presence beyond the invoice.
  • Find a phone number on the company's own website (not on the invoice) and call to confirm the invoice is genuine.
  • If you cannot find any way to contact the company, treat the invoice as suspicious and do not pay it.

This advice is consistent with guidance from the FTC, UK Action Fraud, and ACCC Scamwatch, all of which list verifying the sender by an independent channel as the single most important step.

Watch for red-flag payment requests​

Certain payment methods are favoured by scammers because the money is almost impossible to recover once sent. Be very cautious if the invoice or follow-up message asks you to pay using any of these:

  • Cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDT
  • Gift cards of any kind (Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Steam, retail vouchers)
  • Wire transfers such as MoneyGram, Western Union, or Wise to an unfamiliar account
  • A bank account in a different name to the business you are paying
  • Any payment method outside Fiskl's normal payment flow (for example, a message asking you to send funds directly rather than use the invoice link)

Legitimate businesses very rarely require payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards. If you are pushed toward one of these methods, especially with urgency, it is almost certainly a scam.

warning

Anyone who tells you that you must pay an invoice in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or by wire transfer to a personal account is very likely a scammer. Stop, do not pay, and verify the sender independently.

Pressure and urgency are warning signs​

Genuine businesses understand that invoices take time to review and approve. Be wary of any invoice or follow-up communication that:

  • Demands payment within hours or by the end of the day
  • Threatens legal action, account closure, or service disruption if you don't pay immediately
  • Tells you to keep the payment confidential or "off the books"
  • Asks you to bypass your usual approval process at work

Pressure tactics are designed to stop you from checking. The right response to urgency is to slow down, not speed up.

Setting up a mandate or direct debit​

A mandate (also called a direct debit) is your authorisation for a business to take recurring payments from your bank account. Mandates are convenient for subscriptions and recurring services, but you should only ever sign one if you understand exactly what it covers.

Before signing a mandate, make sure you know:

  • Who the mandate is with — the exact business name as it will appear on your statement
  • What the mandate is for — the product, service, or subscription
  • How much will be taken, and how often
  • How you can cancel it if you no longer want the service

If any of those answers are unclear, do not sign the mandate. You can always ask the business to send you the details in writing first.

If you spot a direct debit on your bank statement that you don't recognise, contact your bank straight away. In most countries, banks can reverse unauthorised direct debits and refund you.

How Fiskl handles abuse​

Fiskl invests in identifying and removing accounts that misuse the platform. The platform is paid-only, which removes most low-effort fraud attempts before they can begin. When abuse is reported, the team can:

  • Review the account that issued the invoice
  • Suspend the account and prevent further invoices from being sent
  • Cancel outstanding invoices that have not been paid
  • Cooperate with law enforcement where appropriate

To help us act quickly, please report any invoice you believe is fraudulent.

How to report an invoice​

Every Fiskl invoice payment page has a Report abuse link at the bottom. Use it if any of the following are true:

  • You did not order what the invoice describes
  • The sender is impersonating a person or company you trust
  • You are being pressured to pay with cryptocurrency, gift cards, or a wire transfer
  • The invoice contains threatening or abusive content

Selecting Report abuse sends the invoice details directly to the Fiskl team for review. You don't need a Fiskl account to report.

If you have already paid​

If you have paid an invoice that you now believe was fraudulent, act quickly. The faster you act, the better your chances of recovering the money.

  1. Contact your bank or card provider immediately. Ask them to stop the payment, reverse it, or initiate a chargeback if possible.
  2. Cancel any mandate or recurring payment you set up as part of the same transaction.
  3. Report the invoice to Fiskl using the Report abuse link on the payment page, so we can shut down the sender's account.
  4. Report the scam to your local authority:
  5. Keep evidence. Save the invoice, any emails, and a record of the payment. Your bank and the authorities will need these.

Common questions​

I received an invoice from a company I've never heard of. Should I pay?

No, not until you have verified the sender. Find the company's website independently, call them, and confirm the invoice is genuine. If you cannot reach them or cannot find evidence the company exists, do not pay and report the invoice as abuse.

The invoice looks real but the bank details have changed. What should I do?

Treat a last-minute change of bank details as a major warning sign. This is one of the most common forms of invoice fraud. Call the business using a number you already have on file, not the number on the new invoice, and confirm the change directly before paying.

Does Fiskl ever ask for payment in cryptocurrency?

No. Fiskl does not invoice you for the goods or services you are paying for. The business named on the invoice does. No legitimate Fiskl invoice will require payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, or by wire transfer to a personal account.

I signed a mandate by mistake. How do I cancel it?

Contact your bank and ask them to cancel the direct debit or standing order. Most banks let you do this through online banking, in the app, or by phone. If money has already been taken under an unauthorised mandate, ask your bank about a refund under the direct debit guarantee scheme in your country.

What happens after I report abuse?

The Fiskl team reviews the report, examines the account that issued the invoice, and takes action — including suspending the account and cancelling outstanding invoices where appropriate. Reports are confidential, and we use them to make the platform safer for everyone.

  • Get Support — Other ways to contact Fiskl if you need help