Attempted email fraud targeting a Scottish law firm - 14 September 2016
We have received reports of yet another case of an email scam targeting the Scottish legal profession.
The most recent case reported to us involved a solicitor receiving an email made to look like it came from a client. The client’s email account had been cloned and the email address used was very similar to that of the client.
The fraudulent email instructed that a payment be made to a new bank account.
In this case, when the scammer didn’t receive a reply from the first solicitor they contacted, they proceeded to email another solicitor at the firm.
Please be vigilant for suspicious emails and ensure that all staff are aware of the threats posed by email scams.
Dealing with online fraud will be the focus of the Society’s Technology and Cybercrime Conference on 26 October 2016.
Fraud and scam alerts
We regularly issue alerts to members and the public in response to threats to the profession. We also raise awareness of any potential scams involving fake solicitors or firms.