Never send or accept bank account details by email
It has been reported to the Society that on occasions where an email account of a solicitor has been compromised, the hacker will familiarise himself with the email correspondence. Then later, e.g. close of sale, they will issue an email from the account posing as the solicitor and requesting monies be made to a fraudulent bank account.
To counter this type of fraud it is recommended that bank account details are not provided via email.
Use other more secure communication channels. In situations, where it is necessary to use email, a more secure alternative might be to split and forward the account details through two different mediums. This could mean sending the digits for the first half of an IBAN number via email and the latter half by letter, fax, text etc.
At this point, the recipient should verify the authenticity of both communication mediums used to:
- verbally confirm the account details and
- the reason for the transferand contact the solicitor.
Use the telephone number listed for the solicitor on the Law Society website or in the Law Directory, or other such number that is personally known to the sender or publically listed.
Have you been a victim?
Please report details to the Law Society - anonymously if preferred - using this brief online report form.
For other cyber alerts, click on the News listing link below.
