What should I do if bank details change during a purchase?

Stop and verify

A last-minute change to account details can be genuine, but it is also a common payment-fraud warning. Do not send funds, amend a saved beneficiary or reply with sensitive information until the change is verified. Avoid using a telephone number, email link or reply address contained in the message announcing the change.

Contact the intended recipient through details you already hold and have used independently, such as a previously verified office number. Ask them to confirm the account holder, account details, amount, purpose and timing. If possible, speak directly with your lawyer or the professional responsible for the transaction. Verify any confirmation through a second trusted channel where practical. Your bank can explain its payment safeguards and any checks it can perform; it cannot guarantee recovery after a transfer.

If money has already been sent, contact your bank immediately using its official contact route and request urgent action. Notify your lawyer and the genuine recipient, preserve messages and payment records, and follow bank or police reporting advice. Do not delete evidence. Keep a written log of who confirmed what and when. Do not treat an email signature, familiar branding or an apparently correct thread as proof that instructions are authentic.