Cybercriminals continue to target law firms using sophisticated social engineering and email fraud to deceive lawyers into wiring trust funds to fraudsters. These fraudulent emails appear to come from clients, opposing counsel or other trusted contacts, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate emails. Traditional red flags — such as a change in payment instructions or spelling mistakes — are now uncommon. Today’s sophisticated fraudsters get in at the front end by providing the initial payment instructions, making independent verification essential.
Watch this three-minute video by Director of Risk Management, Maryanne Prohl, to learn how to avoid funds transfer frauds. Use a checklist for every payment. Don’t be the next victim.
What else can you do?
- Attend Coalition’s free, October 29th cybersecurity webinar – which qualifies for CPD and satisfies half of the 2-hour practice management requirement.
- Sign up for Coalition Control, a free cyber security platform that helps firms detect, assess and mitigate cyber threats before they become attacks.
- Stop the hacker from accessing your firm’s network. How? Phishing is the #1 driver of cyber claims in BC. Always think before you click and:
- Never open a link or attachment in an email or text message from someone you do not know.
- If you unexpectedly receive a link or attachment – even if it is from someone you know – call the sender using the telephone number you have on file (not the number listed in the message) to confirm the message is legitimate.
- If you open a link or attachment that you should have avoided, and a box opens that asks for your password or other information, stop. Close out. Immediately call your IT department to run a scan on your device and inform your other law firm staff immediately.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi, and do not use unsecured Wi-Fi to connect to your work server to do any banking, or to send any confidential or personal information.
- Avoid working in public spaces where third parties may view screens or printed documents.
ALSO: Considering a change? Check out our opening for a Claims Counsel on our Careers page.
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