German Businesses Targeted by Fake Invoice Scam – Legal Advice Available

A wave of unsolicited invoices, purportedly linked to a marketing firm called Linden Verlag (LV), is being sent to businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs across Germany, according to Munich-based law firm LoschelderLeisenberg Rechtsanwälte.

The firm has published a detailed guide outlining the common patterns of the scheme, which typically begins with an unsolicited phone call offering a pre-existing or renewal of a contract. Recipients then receive a form, often labeled as a “citizen information brochure,” that appears to be a simple confirmation but allegedly contains hidden fees for advertising services, the law firm stated.

Those who sign the form may face demands for around €1,200 per invoice, with multiple invoices potentially totaling approximately €5,000, according to LoschelderLeisenberg. The form also reportedly includes automatic renewal clauses if not cancelled within a specific timeframe.

Daniel Loschelder, a partner at the firm specializing in commercial law and IT law, cautioned that standard cancellation rights applicable to consumers do not necessarily apply in business-to-business (B2B) transactions. “Simply returning an invoice is not a sufficient approach,” he said. “Instead, a structured review and appropriate legal declarations are crucial.”

The law firm emphasized that even an illegal initial cold call does not automatically invalidate any resulting contract. Though, they also noted that there may be legal grounds to challenge the invoices depending on the specific circumstances of each case.

According to the firm’s advisory, the company behind the invoices, Nord Süd Marketing UG, was registered in the commercial register at the Bochum Local Court in May 2025. Mustafa Sahiner is listed as the managing director, with a business address at Brehmstraße 3, 40239 Düsseldorf, which the firm describes as an office center location.

LoschelderLeisenberg Rechtsanwälte is offering to review documents, such as invoices and correspondence, to provide an initial assessment and legal classification of the situation. The firm has provided a contact form on its website for submitting materials.

“Anyone receiving such an invoice should not pay it immediately, but rather have the matter examined in a structured manner,” Loschelder stated. “In the B2B context, the correct legal step is decisive.”