State agencies are reporting more frequent instances of attempted direct deposit fraud. Thieves send direct deposit authorization and payee change request forms to agencies to update an existing, legitimate vendor’s bank account information and the vendor’s name, address and contact information.
Agencies must be vigilant when setting up or changing direct deposit account, payee and/or address information. Agency staff should always verify change requests with an established vendor contact. Agencies should not use the contact information on the request form to verify the changes, because it may be fraudulent.
Review the Fraud Prevention Recommendations on TexPayment Resource, which include:
- Don’t Be a Target of Fraud.
- Vendor Impersonation Fraud.
- Payment Processing Tips.
Note: If your agency hosts payment forms on its website, ensure the forms are secure and require a login to prevent unauthorized use. Current forms are always available on FMX.
State agencies should immediately report attempts or instances of direct deposit fraud to the Comptroller’s Payment Services section: payment.services.dd@cpa.texas.gov or (512) 936-8138.
