Top Warning Signs of a Fake Law Firm Website

How to Spot Scammers Pretending to Be Legitimate Lawyers

Fake law firm websites have become a serious threat. Scammers create convincing-looking sites to steal personal information, extract upfront “retainer” fees, or trick victims into sending money for nonexistent cases (especially in debt collection, immigration, personal injury, and romance scams).

Knowing the red flags can save you thousands of dollars and protect your identity. Here are the most common warning signs that a law firm website is fake or fraudulent:

1. No Physical Address or a Fake One

Real law firms proudly display their office address and often include photos of the building. Fake sites either:

Omit any address at all
Use a fake or “virtual office” address.
List an address that Google Street View shows is a parking lot, vacant building, or private home.

Quick check: Copy the address into Google Maps. If it doesn’t match a real law office, walk away.

2. Phone Number Issues

The number is a mobile phone or VoIP (internet) number instead of a landline.
The area code doesn’t match the city they claim to be in.
The number goes straight to voicemail with a generic greeting (“You’ve reached Attorney John Smith…”).
Reverse phone lookup shows the number registered to an individual or unrelated business.

3. Attorneys Not Licensed or Using Stolen Identities

The listed attorneys are not found in the state bar directory.
Photos and bios are stolen from real lawyers in another state or country.
The attorney has a bar number that doesn’t exist or belongs to someone else.

Always verify: Go to your state bar website and search the attorney’s name and bar number.

4. Stock Photos and Generic Content

Headshots are obvious stock photos (reverse-image search with Google often reveals the same photo used on dozens of scam sites).
The website text is vague, full of legal buzzwords, but lacks specific case results or practice-area depth.
“Our Team” page shows the exact same people used on unrelated scam sites.

5. Unrealistic Guarantees or Pressure Tactics

Legitimate lawyers never guarantee results. Watch for phrases like:

“100% success rate”.
“We win every case.”
“Money-back guarantee if we lose”.
Urgent language: “Act now before your statute of limitations expires in 24 hours!”

6. Upfront Fees for Services That Shouldn’t Require Them

Common in debt settlement and debt collection scams:

Demanding large retainers via wire transfer, Bitcoin, or gift cards before any work is done
Asking for payment to “stop a lawsuit” or “remove a warrant” that doesn’t actually exist

Real lawyers usually offer free initial consultations and only collect payment after a signed retainer agreement.

7. Poor Grammar, Spelling, and Design Flaws

Typos and broken English throughout the site.
Outdated design (looks like it was built in 2005).
Broken links, placeholder “Lorem ipsum” text, or pages “under construction” for years.

8. Domain and Hosting Red Flags

The domain was registered very recently (check with whois.domaintools.com).
The domain uses odd extensions (.co, .lawyer, .attorney, .club, .xyz) instead of .com or state-specific domains.
The website is hosted in Russia, China, or other countries frequently associated with cybercrime.

9. No Real Client Reviews or Fake Reviews

Zero presence on review websites.
Reviews that all appear on the same day with identical wording.
Reviews on the firm’s own site that cannot be found anywhere else.

10. Contact Forms That Ask for Sensitive Information Immediately

Fake sites often ask for:

Social Security number
Bank account details
Copies of ID or passport …before you’ve even spoken to anyone. Real firms never do this on a first contact form.

Bonus Red Flag: They Contact You First

Legitimate law firms almost never cold-call or cold-email potential clients (especially about debt, accidents, or immigration). If someone claiming to be a lawyer reaches out to you unsolicited, it’s almost certainly a scam.