It may be a long time since you were worried about monsters hiding under the bed, but there is a monster you should be worried about—and it is hiding right in your emails. Emailed invitations to scams, targeting lawyers in particular, have been on the rise for the past several years. State bars throughout the nation have warned attorneys of the need to be vigilant in responding to email solicitations. In fact, in its August 2015 Attorney E-Newsletter, the Pennsylvania Office of Disciplinary Counsel provided a link to an American Bar Association ethics tip that outlined a new and sophisticated scam that has been used to victimize lawyers (see goo.gl/1zkRy2). For lawyers, the danger is manifold, as our clients are also threatened by attacks on our trust accounts.

The scam begins with a facially legitimate email requesting services in a variety of cases, though primarily in matrimonial, contracts, or collection cases where large sums of money are owed. Whatever the substantive context, the services themselves require the collection of a substantial sum. Be aware that the scammers have moved past the Nigerian royalty ploy and now create businesses, complete with websites and contact information, or use the identities of businesses that have recently closed and still have websites and identity trails available. Engagement letters and retainer agreements are signed and exchanged. The lawyer’s services are either a percentage of the amount collected or a flat fee, the majority of which will be paid after the debt is collected.

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