Press Release

Frankfurt am Main, April 17, 2026 – Cyberattacks on corporate payment processes are on the rise. In particular, phishing, Business Email Compromise (BEC), and so-called payment diversion are increasingly causing payments to be redirected to fraudulent accounts. 

As invoice processing becomes more digital and cloud-based platforms are widely adopted, new attack surfaces are emerging—especially in accounts payable and procure-to-pay processes. 

Payment Diversion: How Attackers Manipulate Payment Flows 

Rather than creating fake invoices, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting existing supplier bank details to redirect payment flows. 

Common attack scenarios include: 

• Manipulating invoices during electronic transmission  

• Gaining access to email communication between companies and suppliers  

• Phishing attacks targeting accounts payable teams  

• Compromising cloud-based procurement or supplier platforms  

The result: payments are unknowingly sent to accounts controlled by fraudsters. 

Once a payment has been executed—whether for invoices or recurring transactions—it is often difficult or impossible to recover. 

Risks for Companies: Financial Losses, Operational Impact, and Reputational Damage 

Manipulated bank details not only lead to direct financial losses but also have significant operational consequences: 

• Increased manual effort in accounts payable  

• Delays in supplier payments  

• Disrupted supplier relationships  

• Reputational risks  

• Higher exposure to ongoing cyber fraud  

The risk is particularly high in centralized payment environments and high-volume payment scenarios. 

Prevention: Validate Bank Details Early in the Payment Process 

To reduce payment fraud and phishing risks, companies must strengthen their internal controls. 

A key measure is the early validation of supplier bank details before payments are executed. 

Best practices include: 

• Verifying changes to supplier master data  

• Matching IBAN and account holder before payment  

• Integrating validation checks into payment workflows  

• Reducing manual controls through automation  

Real-Time IBAN Name Check: Detect Fraud Before Payment Execution 

With alseda PreVOP, companies can validate bank details in real time at the beginning of the payment process. 

IBAN and account holder information are automatically checked, and the result is returned instantly. 

Key benefits: 

• Detect manipulated bank details before payment execution  

• Prevent payment diversion  

• Reduce fraud risk  

• Improve data quality  

• Enable efficient, automated validation processes  

Expert Insight 

Frank Bergmann, Managing Director at alseda Consulting, explains: 

“Cyberattacks on payment processes are increasing significantly as digitalization progresses. Manipulated bank details resulting from phishing or BEC attacks represent a major risk. With our solution, we enable early validation of bank data and support finance and treasury teams in securing their payment processes.” 

Focus on SAP-Based Payment Processes 

The solution has been specifically developed for companies using SAP-based payment environments. It integrates seamlessly into existing procure-to-pay and treasury processes and strengthens security mechanisms without disrupting established workflows. 

Especially in: 

• High-volume payments  

• Supplier data changes  

• Centralized payment structures  

early validation helps reduce risks and increase transparency. 

About alseda Consulting 

alseda Consulting specializes in SAP-based solutions for payments, treasury, and financial processes. The company supports banks and corporates across Europe in implementing secure, efficient, and compliant payment processes. 

Learn more about the alseda PreVOP product description. 

Press Contact 

Loredana Samban 

Email: infomail@alseda.com