How Can You Tell If a Remittance Advice Email Is Real or a Phishing Attempt?

Phishing emails often pose as routine finance communications. A common version claims to be a “remittance advice” or “payment receipt”, complete with an attachment that appears legitimate. One such message sent recently to several business addresses came from credit-payments31@btconnect.com, carried the subject “Remittance Advice – Payment – Copy of receipt E019B16B47”, and had no body text at all.

At first glance it looks harmless, but it’s exactly the kind of email that spreads malware or steals login credentials.

What Are the Warning Signs of a Fake Remittance Email?

A genuine remittance advice will always come from a recognised contact at a verified company domain. This example failed that test immediately. The sender’s address, @btconnect.com, is a consumer email domain anyone can create. It’s often used by attackers because it looks vaguely “official”.

The lack of any message body is another red flag. Real finance departments include context: invoice numbers, payment amounts, or supplier references. A message containing only a vague subject line and an attachment should always be treated with suspicion.

Attachments themselves pose the biggest risk. These files often contain malicious macros, embedded scripts, or links that download additional malware when opened. Even PDFs can hide harmful links.

Why Do Attackers Use “Remittance Advice” as a

Cover?

This type of scam works because it fits naturally into day-to-day business. People expect to receive invoices, receipts, and payment confirmations. Finance and operations staff are more likely to open attachments quickly to keep payments flowing, which makes them an ideal target.

Once opened, these attachments can install keyloggers, ransomware, or remote-access tools that compromise entire company networks.

How Should You Handle an Unexpected Payment Email?

If you receive a message like this:

1. Do not open the attachment.

2. Check the sender domain. If it’s unfamiliar or generic, delete the message.

3. Verify directly with the supposed sender using a known phone number or a separate email chain.

4. Report the attempt to your IT or security team.

5. Delete the message after reporting.

If you’re uncertain, scan the attachment using your company’s security software or an isolated environment, never your main workstation.

How Businesses Can Reduce the Risk

Email filtering tools and antivirus software provide a first line of defence, but staff awareness is critical. Regular phishing training helps employees pause before clicking. Enforcing company-wide policies for supplier communication such as requiring invoices and remittances to come only from approved domains closes off easy entry points.

In Summary

Emails with vague subjects like “Remittance Advice – Payment – Copy of Receipt” and random code strings are common phishing tactics. A lack of context, unexpected attachments, and generic sender domains are all clear signs of fraud. The best protection is caution: never open what you cannot verify.