Fraud and Security
Unfortunately, most large organisations will find themselves subject to fraudulent attacks. This is seen regularly when illegitimate parties try to dishonestly trade on the good reputation of an honest company.
These days fraudsters and hackers are smarter than ever before, which is why it’s important to remain vigilant to these attempts. Gowlings Solicitors want to protect both our clients and members of the public from fraud and scams and to provide individuals with the information that they need to safeguard themselves.
You may find yourself in a situation where a fraudster has posed as an employee of Gowlings Solicitors to entice you into a scam. This is why we’ve put the following information and guidance together to make you aware of what to look out for.
If you are ever unsure as to whether the Gowlings Solicitors correspondence you have received is legitimate, please contact us to verify the details provided. Remember to use the contact details on our website, rather than those provided by the sender, so you can be sure you are speaking to us.
Common examples of fraudulent activity
Hoax emails and SMS messages
Emails may be sent by fraudsters pretending to be one of our lawyers. Most hoax emails are sent with the malicious intention of obtaining money from you under false pretences. The sender may put pressure on you to send money or release personal details.
- Be suspicious. If you have doubts about correspondence that appears to have come from Gowlings Solicitors, always contact us to confirm before actioning any requests.
- Who is the sender? Gowlings Solicitors emails will generally come from an email address ending in “gowlingslaw.co.uk” so this is the first thing to check. If you hover over the sender name, the sender email address will appear. Fraudulent emails will usually be sent from a web-based email address such as Gmail or Hotmail, however sometimes impersonators are able to spoof legitimate inboxes and make it appear as though the sender email address is correct. Unfortunately, double checking the sender email address isn’t always enough but it’s a great place to start.
- Make a phone call. Find the correct contact details for the alleged sender and call them. If the impersonated individual has no knowledge of the email then it can be confirmed as malicious.
- Is there a website link? Although the hoax email may mention Gowlings Solicitors and appear to provide a link to our website, we have previously seen fraudsters supply links that are illegitimate and that lead to a false version of our website. Links can be disguised to look “normal” to trick individuals into clicking on them. Again, you can hover over the link to see the address that it will send you to. Never click on a link in an email or SMS message unless you’re absolutely confident that the sender is who they say they are.
- Download request? Gowlings Solicitors will never ask you to download any software on to your computer. Be cautious of any requests to do this – fraudsters may be trying to monitor your activity.
- Check for grammar and misspellings. This is often the easiest way to spot fraudulent activity and spam messages.
Hoax phone calls
If you receive an unexpected phone call from a party claiming to be Gowlings Solicitors and you are questioning its legitimacy, please hang up and call us back using either the contact details that you already have for us or the number provided on our website.
Please be aware that caller IDs can easily be spoofed. This means that the number you have been called from may appear to be a genuine Gowlings Solicitors telephone number but, unfortunately, this might not be the case. Always call us back if you have any doubts or contact us via idris@gowlingslaw.co.uk
General guidance
Never give personal details to somebody you don’t know or trust. Contact us first for confirmation of identity before handing over information.
Report it. Please don’t feel concerned or apprehensive about reporting an incident that you suspect may be a scam (whether it turns out to be one or not). If you think you have received an illegitimate email, SMS message or phone call, let us know immediately. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry.
Do not send any money unless you’re 100% confident about who you are sending it to. Always contact us to confirm if you’re unsure.
Finally, try not to panic. Panicking can cause you to make rash decisions. Get in touch with us straight away and we’ll be happy to help.
What to you if you’re concerned
If you receive any unsolicited emails, SMS messages or calls claiming to be from Gowlings Solicitors, please bring it to our attention via idris@gowlingslaw.co.uk
Further information
Further information on hoax emails, including common types of scam, can be found on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.