Deposit Scammers: Make One Phone Call Before You Pay

Think about how long it took to save for that fence.

The overtime. The weekends. Putting other things off so you could finally get the backyard sorted, keep the dog in, give the kids somewhere safe to play. You did your homework, got your quotes, picked a company, and when the invoice came through, you paid the deposit. You did everything right.

Then a few days go by. Nobody calls. You ring the number on the invoice and it doesn't answer. So you look up the company yourself and call them, and they tell you they've never heard of you.

That sinking feeling in your stomach is the moment you realise the money is gone.

I wish this was made up. It isn't.

It's happened with our name on it

We've had those phone calls. People ringing Synergy about a deposit they'd paid, to an invoice with our name on top. One family had already transferred $10,000. But they'd never been dealing with us. Someone had impersonated our company and put their own bank details at the bottom.

By the time they called us, the money was gone, and there was nothing we could do to get it back. That's a hard phone call to be on, from either side.

And it isn't only us. We know of other fencing and building companies around Brisbane who've had their names used the same way. Scammers pick real, trusted businesses on purpose, because a name you already trust is the easiest way to get you to pay.

So this isn't about one company. It's about protecting your money, whoever you're dealing with.

How the scam works

It usually looks completely normal. You've been getting quotes, you're expecting an invoice, and one arrives. It has a real company's name and logo on top. The wording looks right. The amount looks about right.

The only thing that's different is the part most people don't check: the phone number and the bank details. Those belong to the scammer.

Sometimes it's a fake invoice from scratch. Sometimes it's an email saying the company's "bank details have changed". Either way, the money goes straight to someone who has nothing to do with your fence.

The one phone call that stops it

Don't call the number on the invoice. Look up the company yourself and call them.

Take the company name from the top of the invoice. Search for it on Google, or look it up on the QBCC licence search. Find their phone number from their own website, not from the invoice or email you were sent. Then ring that number and ask:

• "Did you send me this invoice?"
• "Can you confirm your bank details?"

If the details on the invoice match what the company tells you, great. If they don't, stop. Don't pay a cent.

Calling the number on the invoice doesn't help. If the invoice is fake, that number goes straight to the scammer, and they'll happily tell you everything is fine.

Other warning signs

• Bank details have "changed". Any message saying a company has a new account is a reason to call them on a number you found yourself.
• The account name doesn't match the company. If the invoice is from a company but the account is in a person's name or a different business name, ask why.
• Pressure to pay fast. "Pay today to lock in your start date" is a common push. A real contractor will give you time to check.
• The email address looks slightly off. One letter different, or a free email address instead of the company's own.

If you think you've been scammed

Move fast. Call your bank straight away and tell them the payment was a scam. The sooner they know, the better the chance of stopping it. Then report it to Scamwatch and ReportCyber.

Call us. We genuinely don't mind.

If you get an invoice from Synergy Fencing, call us on 07 2141 7748, the number on this website, before you pay. We'll confirm it's really from us and that the bank details are ours. If we miss your call, we'll call you back.

You won't be bothering us, and we'll never be offended. The people who check are the careful ones, and those are exactly the people we like working with. We'd much rather spend two minutes on the phone with you than have you go through what that family went through.

You worked hard for that money. One phone call keeps it safe.

Want to check an invoice, or get a quote from the real Synergy? Call us on 07 2141 7748, get a price online or let's have a chat.