SAGE 50

Invoice fraud checks for Sage 50

Short answer

Sage 50 has no built-in invoice fraud checks. Pulsify flags changed bank details, an invalid or missing tax ID and emails that fail sender checks.

Last checked

Invoice fraud checks look for fake invoices and changed bank details before money leaves your account.

What Sage 50 does on its own

Sage 50 Accounts keeps a record modified date on a supplier but no history of bank detail changes. Once switched on, the Event Log records what event occurred, which user made it, which computer and when. It is not retrospective and does not list the old and new bank values. User access rights limit who may edit suppliers. You can check a supplier's VAT number against the GOV.UK service.

  • The Event Log is not retrospective and does not list old and new bank values.

What you need in Sage 50

  • Sage 50 Accounts (UK)

Setting it up in Sage 50

Where to find it: Tools > Event Log; Settings > Company Preferences > VAT

  1. Go to Tools > Event Log and change the settings so more events are recorded. The change is not retrospective.
  2. Use user access rights to limit who may edit supplier records.
  3. Enter the supplier VAT number on the supplier record.
  4. Tick Validate VAT Number in Settings > Company Preferences > VAT if you want Sage to check the format.
  5. Check the number on the GOV.UK Check a UK VAT number service.

Good to know in Sage 50

  • Sage staff describe Validate VAT Number as a format check for the country on the record. Use the GOV.UK service to confirm a number with HMRC.
  • The Event Log records the event, user, computer and time. It does not list the old and new bank values.

How to do it in Sage 50

How to control supplier bank detail changes in Sage 50

Do not change supplier bank details in Sage 50 from an email. Phone the supplier on a number you already hold, get a second approval, then update the supplier record.

How to set up a new supplier safely in Sage 50

Before the first bill, collect the supplier's VAT number and bank details, check the VAT number with HMRC, phone to confirm, have a second person approve the supplier record in Sage 50, then enter the first purchase invoice.

How to check a supplier's VAT number in Sage 50

Look up the supplier's VAT number with the HMRC Check a UK VAT number service, then save it in Sage 50. Check the name and address match the supplier.

How to stop paying a purchase invoice twice in Sage 50

Before you enter a purchase invoice in Sage 50, search the supplier's bills for the same number or amount. Use one reference format and check the supplier payment run for repeats.

What Pulsify adds

  1. Pulsify compares the bank details on each invoice with the supplier's past invoices and your contact in Sage 50.
  2. It flags a VAT number that differs from the supplier record or is missing.
  3. If an email fails sender checks and the sender's domain enforces it, Pulsify holds the email and warns you.
  4. Each document gets one signal in the queue: Needs fix, Check or Ready.

Pulsify connects to Sage 50. We set up the connection for you. More about invoice fraud checks in Pulsify.

What Pulsify does not do

  • Flags are warnings. Call the supplier on a number you already have before paying new bank details.
  • Pulsify never moves money.

More help

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-19.

Common questions

Does Sage 50 record who changed a supplier's bank details?

Only if the Event Log is set to record more events, and only from then on. It records what event occurred, which user made it, which computer and when. It does not list the old and new bank values. Without it Sage 50 keeps a record modified date only.

Does Validate VAT Number check with HMRC?

Sage staff describe it as a format check for the country on the record. Use the GOV.UK Check a UK VAT number service to confirm the number with HMRC.

Can I stop staff editing supplier bank details in Sage 50?

You can limit who edits supplier records through user access rights. The Sage help describes no field level lock on bank details.

What is the most common invoice fraud?

A fake email asking you to update a supplier's bank details. The next real invoice is then paid to the fraudster's account.

Pulsify setup guides

Want this done for you?

Book a call to see how Pulsify handles invoice fraud checks in Sage 50.

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