🚨 BOLO 🚨 : Beware of phishing emails impersonating federal court CM/ECF notifications!

🚨 Today, I received notices from two different courts about illicit emails posing as court communications (see pictures below). 📨 It can sometimes be easy to ignore the “generic” clerk’s e-mail.

🔒 Remember, scammers may send fake emails with malicious links or attachments claiming to be from courts. Always verify emails before clicking links or downloading files. Access court documents directly through official PACER/CM/ECF portals. 🛡️

🚫 Report suspicious emails to your court.

Stay vigilant to protect sensitive case information and maintain cybersecurity. 🛡️💻

From the United States District Court of Maryland…

From the United States Southern District Court of indiana…

My Two Cents: Lawyers! Watch Out For Scammers On Amazon/Online When Buying Electronics, As You May Get Something Else!!!

be careful - DIGITAL SCAMMERS WILL TRY TO RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING!

During the Holiday Season in today's digital age, online shopping for lawyers has become a convenient and popular way to purchase various products, including electronics. However, with the rise in popularity of online marketplaces like Amazon, scammers have also found new avenues to exploit unsuspecting buyers. As a result, it is crucial for lawyers to stay vigilant and protect themselves from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes: it is essential to exercise caution and adopt certain preventive measures.

Scammers often employ deceptive tactics such as selling counterfeit or misrepresented electronic devices. They may advertise high-end gadgets at unbelievably low prices or use persuasive techniques to mislead customers into making hasty purchases. Once the purchase is made, customers receive a completely different or counterfeit product instead.

ALWAYS USE SECURE PAYMENT METHODS WHEN PURCHASING PRODUCTS ONLINE!

Another common scam involves sellers who disappear after receiving payment. These fraudsters often create fake profiles and offer attractive deals on high-demand electronics. Once payment is made, they vanish without delivering the purchased item or providing any means of contact.

Some scammers exploit unsuspecting buyers by selling stolen or refurbished goods as brand-new products. These items may come with hidden defects or missing accessories, which significantly diminish their value. Worse yet, you may hear from the authorities about stolen goods you unwittingly purchased. 

Always use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal.

😀 ☃️ 🚨

Always use secure payment methods like credit cards or PayPal. 😀 ☃️ 🚨

Always utilize secure payment methods such as credit cards or trusted third-party services like PayPal.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE DEALING WITH A REPUTABLE SELLER BEFORE MAKING ANY ONLINE PURCHASE!

It is always best to buy from reputable sellers or authorized dealers.  Do your due diligence and check the seller's reputation. If there are discrepancies between what is advertised and what is described in reviews or customer feedback, exercise caution before making a purchase. If any information appears vague or inconsistent, consider reaching out to the seller for clarification before making a purchase. Trust your instincts. If something feels off about a seller or listing, it's better to err on the side of caution and choose another reputable source for your electronic needs, even if you are paying more than the questionable “deal.”

BOLO: Watch Out for Electronic Payment Scams!

What Out for Electronic Payment Scams!

Daniel Oropeza at Lifehacker reports that there has been a rise in people being scammed with the Zelle payment app.  There are a lot of other similar payment apps, and they all provide an easy way to send money to others without having to write a check or have cash on hand.  This can serve as a possible easier means of doing business:  These apps may take out certain steps, e.g., writing and mailing a check, when paying your contract workers and easier way to keep track of payments for 1099-R IRS reporting.  Plus the recipient can get their money almost instantaneously!  The problem with these apps is when you get unsolicited calls, e-mails, or texts to "authorize" or "confirm a payment" you did not make or were expecting.  You get a text like this:

FreeMsg: BANK OF AMERICA Fraud Protection Team: Did you attempt a Zelle Transfer for $550.00 on 10-10-2022? Reply YES or NO. To Opt Out Fraud Alert Text reply STOP

 This seems like a fairly innocuous message.  But replying to it gives the scammers enough information to empty your bank account.  Never a good thing.  Remember, Zelle is by its own definition “… is a great way to send money to friends and family, even if they bank somewhere different than you do.” (emphasis added).  So when you get one of these messages, you should have an idea if you have been sending or receiving money to/from someone.  You should never give out personal/business information from unsolicited communications.

 Here are some tips to avoid being scammed through a payment app:

You are your best protection against electronic cammers.

• If you get an unsolicited text message from your bank or credit card, make sure it’s from a valid number for your bank.  If not, mark it as spam and delete it.  I use Noborobo to help block spam texts on my iPhone.  The company will be expanding spam text coverage to Android phones soon!

• If you get an unsolicited e-mail from your bank or credit card, check the senders e-mail address carefully.  It’s likely a spoof of your bank or even unrelated to your bank.  Mark it as spam.  You can either put it in your junk file or just delete it.  I use Sanebox to deal with spam e-mail.  It’s a paid third-party service that uses artificial intelligence to help identify your important e-mails, put off less important e-mails for review at a later date, and trashes junk, spam, etc. into a "blackhole." **Personal note:  I have been using it for years and it saves me a lot of time with my e-mail.

• If you get an unsolicited calls for your bank or credit card requesting personal information, don’t give it! Don’t answer numbers you don’t recognize, mark as spam unsolicited callers who ask for it.  I use Noborobo to help block spam calls on my iPhone and Samsung (Android).

The theme is don’t give away your personal information to unsolicited communications!  If you have concerns about your credit card or bank account, call your credit card or bank directly on a confirmed phone number.