Keeping Safe From Scams and Fraud
We want to help you limit your risk of becoming a victim of scams or cyber fraud, specifically affecting email accounts and bank account details.
I will NEVER ask you to pay an invoice or transfer money using bank account details in the body of an email.
If you ever receive an email asking you to send me money (or to provide your bank details so I can send you money) please go to my website and call me using the number listed on the Contact Us page or in the header to verify the request.
What to look out for
Scams will often originate by email and may take a number of forms, including, but not limited to:
- advising you that our bank account details have changed
- false invoices for legal services
- urgent requests for payment seemingly coming out of the blue
- offering money
- bequests under a will
- threatening legal action if the victim does not respond
- malicious attachments made to look innocuous such as an update
- requests for password or bank account details and
- links to helpful or relevant websites
This correspondence can look and feel very authentic and is often sent using replicated letterhead and can include telephone numbers or email addresses that are almost identical to our actual contact information.
If you're in doubt call us using the number on our website - not the contact information provided in any attachments or email footer.
A key element of scams of this type is the enticement for you to enter into some form of communication with the scammer. They can do this by encouring you to click a link or download a document or by omitting an attachment or enticing you to respond by email or telephone using a false email address or telephone number.
Common scams and fraudulent activity
Change in bank account details.
We will never advise of a change in our bank account details in the body of an email and if you receive an email of this kind we ask you to contact us using the telephone number listed on our website (not telephone or email details listed in the footer of the email or any attachments) before making a payment.
An unusual originating email address.
Email correspondence from Your Estate Lawyer uses a standard form – firstname@yourestatelawyer.com.au or through one of our generic email addresses:
- support@yourestatelawyer.com.au
- hello@yourestatelawyer.com.au
Any communication not using this email format is more than likely fraudulent.
Email "from" addresses can be copied, so you should check that the reply-to address is not unusual before responding.
Missing attachments.
In some cases, a perpetrator may send an email without attaching an invoice, in order to prompt the recipient to respond to request the attachment, building a degree of rapport or trust. Before replying check the reply-to address to ensure it matches the format above or call me on the number listed on our website.
Beneficiary payments.
If you are a beneficiary of a deceased estate you will be required to provide your bank details to the executor of the estate through our official process - this does not include providing your bank details by email. If you are unsure please contact me using the telephone number listed on our website.