Fraud Prevention
Fraudsters impersonating firms to divert real estate deposit funds
In the article “Danger: When a hacker emails you instructions in the name of your client” we warned lawyers to be aware of the danger of fake emails from the client attempting to redirect funds in a real estate purchase. In a new twist on this scam, a firm informed us that their client was… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionBe aware of an invoice phishing attempt
A number of Ontario lawyers have reported receiving a phishing attempt that tried to entice the recipient to click on a link which likely will attempt to install malware or direct the user to a suspicious site. When hovering over the link, the site displayed is phenixsportsmensclub.com/intuit. The emails all have a number of similar… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention, Risk Management & Claims PreventionArrests made in the U.S. of fraudsters involved in email impersonation scams
Here’s a rare bit of good news when it comes to fraud and cybercrime. Housingwire.com reports that several fraudsters have been arrested in the U.S.. The scams they are accused of running include hacking firm email accounts to redirect funds from real estate transactions to their own bank accounts. See Danger: When a Hacker Emails… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionThe new Fraud Fact Sheet for Cybercrime and Bad Cheque Scams
There has been a huge growth in cybercrime attempts against lawyers and firms, who must now be on guard against bad cheque frauds, phishing, funds transfer frauds and attempts to hack firm information. We have published a new 4-page Cybercrime and Bad Cheque Scams Fraud Fact Sheet (PDF) to help lawyers spot the red flags… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionBeware Phony DocuSign Phishing Scam
The Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association released this warning on March 5, 2018. The Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association (ALIA) has learned of a very convincing email scam that is trying to lure lawyers into giving away their passwords or installing malware by way of fake DocuSign requests. Lawyers have been receiving emails from a sender who… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention, Risk Management & Claims PreventionFraud Alert: Email funds diversion fraud targeting Ontario lawyers
[The following is the text of a Fraud Alert LAWPRO sent to all its insured lawyers on June 30, 2017, updated with email addresses used by fraudsters from further reports we have received. Updated July 5, 2017 and January 23, 2018 with new emails and bank account details] LAWPRO has received multiple reports of an… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionBeware of funds transfer frauds over the holidays – BC firm defrauded for six figures
The Law Society of British Columbia published the following warning to its members on December 15, 2017. A BC law firm has fallen victim to the sophisticated “phony direction to pay” social engineering fraud. Here’s what happened. The perpetrators hacked the firm’s computer, and then monitored the firm’s email traffic for some time before making… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionALIA Alert on spear phishing “direction to pay” scams (we are seeing these in Ontario too)
See below for text of an Alert sent today by Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association. We are seeing similar scams targeting Ontario lawyers. We encourage Ontario lawyers to be vigilant and follow the precautions in this Alert. ALIA has received additional reports of fraudulent emails being sent to lawyers in Alberta and other jurisdictions. In these… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention