Below are some of the most common phishing scams you should be on the lookout for.
Phishing with Fake Client Requests
In this day and age, most people know not to click on any suspicious links or give strangers personal information. But phishing scams are ever-evolving. Fake client requests are just one of many new scams out there. Attackers send emails posing as potential clients with documents or links that require credentials for access. Often, these documents contain malware. These attacks can breach client data security, lead to legal consequences, and damage the firm's reputation. A great way to protect yourself is to use multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access. Also, training employees to recognize suspicious emails and vet new clients carefully will help stop these kinds of threats.
Phishing Through Legal Documents
Another type of attack targeted specifically at lawyers is fake requests or court documents. Phishers will send fake requests or court documents to a lawyer that contains malware to get access to firms' files or personal information. Make sure your anti-virus systems are up to date, you run regular software updates on your computers, and employees know not to open unverified documents from unverified sources.
Fake Payments or Payment Requests
Due to the sheer amount of financial transactions law firms cycle through these are a quite common scam. Phishers will send what appears to be an official email from a bank. They will usually request transferring funds from one account to another. These requests can seem so legitimate that expert lawyers fail to spot them. To protect yourself from these kinds of attacks make direct contact. Contact the client or financial institution directly to suss out whether or not this is an authentic request.
General Reminders
Always be on the lookout for the following features that give phishing scams away:
Unusual Email Address: Always verify the sender's email, especially if it's asking for something unexpected or sensitive information. Ask do you know the sender? Are you expecting an email from this person?
Suspicious URLs: If you are receiving a URL that has misspellings in it, starts with http instead of https, or asks for something do not click it. When in doubt hover over a link to see the full URL.
Look for Genertic Greetings: Phishing emails often use generic greetings and lack personalized information.
Urgency: Phishing scams will often put a time limit on their scam leaving no time for the person to think about whether this is a legitimate message.
By incorporating these practices, along with the previously mentioned strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing scams. Stay vigilant and prioritize cybersecurity to protect both your firm and your clients.
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