30 Sep 2014

Hacker posed as law client to get cash

4:19 pm on 30 September 2014

The Law Society is warning lawyers about email security after a hacker posed as a client and gained access to cash.

The society's financial assurance manager, Jeremy Kennerley, said today that lawyers should be wary of relying on emailed instructions without verification.

Mr Kennerley said in this case, the hacker sent an email from a client's account asking the lawyer to shift funds into the hacker's bank account.

The hacker also got into the lawyer's email, sending a reassuring message to the client that gained the hacker enough time to take the money.

Mr Kennerley says if lawyers get instructions by email, they should back that up with a phone call or some other form of communication to confirm it.