Scam alert
Bill or Renewal You Don't Recognize? Don't Call the Number on It
Posted
Missouri and nationwide · ky3.com · Arrives by an email
The short answer
A bill or renewal you don't recognize, with a number to call or a link to pay, is a sign of a scam. It may be a receipt for a purchase you don't remember, a renewal threatening late fees, or a small invoice from an unknown vendor. In October 2026, the Better Business Bureau warned about these fake invoices, which often copy a familiar company, and said PayPal was the organization most often impersonated in reports to it in 2025. Do not call the number or click the link. Check your real account on the company's own website.
What is happening
In October 2026, KY3 in Springfield, Missouri, reported a Better Business Bureau warning about fake invoices: a receipt for a large purchase that prompts a call to a fake help number, a subscription renewal email that leads to a payment link, and small "office supplies" invoices that a business might pay without checking. The BBB said its Scam Tracker Risk Report found invoice scams were the second riskiest scam reported by businesses in 2025, with a median loss of $532, and that PayPal was the most frequently impersonated organization in reports to the BBB that year. An earlier BBB alert described emails saying a subscription had renewed for hundreds of dollars and listing a customer service number that turned out to be fake.
How to recognize it
- A receipt or invoice is for something you do not remember buying, with a help number to call.
- A renewal notice says you must pay now to avoid late fees and gives a link.
- A business gets a small invoice that looks like it is from a usual vendor, for goods nobody ordered.
- The message looks like it comes from a familiar company, such as PayPal, and threatens legal action if you do not pay.
What to do instead
- Do not call the number or click the link in the message.
- Sign in to your account through the company's own website or app, or find the phone number there, to check the charge.
- Keep track of your purchases and active subscriptions through your bank statements.
- For a business, confirm with the person who would have ordered the goods, and check that they were delivered, before paying.
- If you want to tell someone, the rule is: check a surprise invoice in your real account, not through the email.
If it already happened
Responding to one of these is common and understandable. These steps are what people usually take next.
- If you paid or shared a card number, call your bank or card issuer on the number on the back of the card.
- If you let someone onto your computer during the call, disconnect it from the internet and have it checked.
- Report it to BBB Scam Tracker and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Common questions
- The email had the company's logo. How can it be fake?
- A logo can be copied. The BBB says scammers imitate companies people do business with, so the check is to go to the company's own website or app, not to use anything in the email.
- What if the invoice threatens legal action?
- The BBB says scammers may use intimidation and claims of legal action to prompt quick payment, and recommends taking time to confirm the invoice before sending money.
Practice this safely
Practice checking a surprise renewal notice by signing in to your account yourself instead of calling the number in the email.
Every story is fictional. There is no timer, no score, and no real message, payment, or account.
Tell someone
Copy a short note you can paste into a text or email. It names the scam, the next step, and this page. Nothing is sent from this site.
Bill or Renewal You Don't Recognize? Don't Call the Number on It A bill or renewal you don't recognize, with a number to call or a link to pay, is a sign of a scam. It may be a receipt for a purchase you don't remember, a renewal threatening late fees, or a small invoice from an unknown vendor. In October 2026, the Better Business Bureau warned about these fake invoices, which often copy a familiar company, and said PayPal was the organization most often impersonated in reports to it in 2025. Do not call the number or click the link. Check your real account on the company's own website. Read the full alert: https://endscamsproject.com/latest-scams/fake-invoice-subscription-renewal-scam
Where this comes from
These links open the published sources in a new tab. The destination is shown before you open it.
- KY3: On Your Side, BBB warns of fake invoice and subscription renewal scams (October 13, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
ky3.com
- Better Business Bureau: Scammers are impersonating businesses, emailing consumers with fake subscription renewal notices (opens in a new tab)
bbb.org
- Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (opens in a new tab)
ReportFraud.ftc.gov
The full guide on this
More recent alerts
This alert provides general educational information drawn from the sources above. It cannot determine whether a specific message you received is genuine, investigate an incident, or promise recovery or reimbursement.