Probe into cyber criminals posing as lawyers to swindle firms

GARDAÍ are investigating several cases where cyber criminals impersonated solicitors to dupe companies or individuals out of large sums of money.

The head of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau said this had happened up to six times in the past 12 months.

Detective Chief Superintendent Pat Lordan warned cyber criminals may also impersonate members of other professions, such as accountants.

Speaking at a conference on the introduction of the latest EU money-laundering directive, organised by Compliance Ireland, he said the con generally involved someone posing as a solicitor emailing the finance department of a firm.

He gave the example of an insurance company being contacted by a fraudster posing as a solicitor with a request that a payout due to a client be paid into a specific bank account.

Det Chief Supt Lordan also cited one case where a prospective house-buyer was contacted by someone posing as a solicitor for the vendor.

This purchaser was given details of a bank account into which the balance due on the property could be paid. In this case some €200,000 was paid into Spanish bank accounts, with little hope of it being retrieved.

Last year, the Law Society warned of the dangers of cyber criminals using malware to infiltrate the computer systems of law firms, gaining access to confidential information which can be used to carry out a fraud.

It has advised members of precautions they can take against cyber criminals.