Email scammers targeting Florida lawyers again

online scams theft (Large)

The state’s lawyers are being targeted by yet another online scam.

Attorney General Pam Bondi sent out a warning Wednesday night about a new “imposter scam.” This time, her office is the one being spoofed.

“Bar members are receiving emails purported to be from the Florida Attorney General’s Office, erroneously informing (them) that their business is being sued by the state,” a press release from Bondi’s office said.

“The email includes a link claiming to be a complaint filed against the recipient’s company; however, it may actually deploy malware,” it added.

Malware, short for malicious software, is software intended to damage or shut down individual computers or online systems.

To report such an email, call the Florida Attorney General’s Office at (866) 9-NO-SCAM or go to MyFloridaLegal.com.

In May, The Florida Bar reported some attorneys received “spam emails containing malicious malware” infecting their computers.

The organization regulates more than 100,000 members licensed to practice law in the Sunshine State. It confirmed that its own computer system was not compromised.

But the subject lines of the emails, which were sent from “@flabar.org” addresses, claimed membership fees were past due or that the receiving attorney had a complaint filed against him or her.

Jim Rosica

Jim Rosica is the Tallahassee-based Senior Editor for Florida Politics. He previously was the Tampa Tribune’s statehouse reporter. Before that, he covered three legislative sessions in Florida for The Associated Press. Jim graduated from law school in 2009 after spending nearly a decade covering courts for the Tallahassee Democrat, including reporting on the 2000 presidential recount. He can be reached at [email protected].



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