Cloned Law Firms: How to Avoid Being Their Next Target

Understanding how these clone firms operate and knowing the red flags is your first and best defense.

What is a Cloned Law Firm?

A cloned law firm is a scam operation that takes on the identity of an authorized, genuine law firm. The fraudsters set up nearly identical online presence, often with a website, email domain, or social media profile that closely mimics the real one.

• They may use the genuine firm’s name and logos.

• They often lift the names of real, licensed attorneys from the legitimate firm.

• The fraudulent website will frequently list a phone number or email address that does not belong to the authentic firm, routing calls or messages to the scammers.

By masquerading as a reputable entity, they gain the trust needed to pressure victims into paying high upfront fees, sharing sensitive information, or wiring funds for non-existent legal services.

How to Spot the Red Flags of a Clone Firm

Scammers rely on urgency and the expectation of a quick solution to prevent you from doing your due diligence. Slow down and check for these warning signs:

1. Suspicious Contact Information

• Mismatched Details: Check the phone number and physical address listed on their website against an independent, verified source like your State Bar Association website or a trusted legal directory. Fraudulent sites often have a very similar web address (e.g., adding a hyphen or using a different domain extension like .net instead of .com).

• Generic Email: A legitimate law firm will almost always use an agency-specific email address (e.g., johnsmith@firmname.com), not a generic one like johnsmith@gmail.com.

2. High-Pressure Tactics and Unclear Fees

• Urgency to Pay: Be highly suspicious if the firm pressures you to sign documents or pay a large fee immediately, especially if they request payment via wire transfer, cash, or an encrypted service without a clear, written agreement.

• “Too Good to Be True” Promises: Legitimate attorneys cannot guarantee specific outcomes. Be wary of any firm that promises a guaranteed win or an absurdly low fee far below market norms.

3. Lack of Verifiable Presence

• Refusal to Meet: If the firm insists on handling everything via email or phone and is hesitant or outright refuses to meet face-to-face, this is a significant red flag.

• New Online Footprint: An established, legitimate firm should have an extensive online presence, including reviews, news mentions, and a professional website that has been active for some time. A very recently created website could indicate a scam.

• Social Media/Messaging Contact: The FBI has recently warned of scammers impersonating law firms on social media and encrypted messaging apps. Do not engage with or send money to a firm that contacts you out of the blue via platforms like WhatsApp or Instagram for legal matters.

Your Defense Strategy: Verify, Verify, Verify

Protect yourself by implementing a strict verification protocol before you share any personal information or pay any money.

• 1. Check the Bar Association Status: Every licensed attorney in the U.S. is registered with their state’s State Bar Association. Use their official “Look Up a Lawyer” feature to:

  • Verify the attorney’s active license status.

  • Confirm the contact information listed on the Bar’s site is an exact match for the firm that contacted you.

  • Review any public disciplinary actions taken against them.

  • Crucial Step: Once you have the Bar’s verified phone number for the real firm, use that number to call them and confirm the person/matter you are dealing with is authentic.

• 2. Conduct Independent Research:

  • Search reputable online review platforms for testimonials and check the age of the reviews. Be suspicious of profiles with a very high volume of generic or fake-sounding reviews.

• 3. Scrutinize Financial Transactions:

  • Always verbally confirm wire instructions using a verified phone number you obtained independently—never use the number or instructions provided in an email, as this is a common tactic for financial fraud.

  • Be cautious of requests to transfer a significant amount of money for a limited amount of work.

If you suspect you’ve been targeted by a cloned law firm or a legal scam, stop all communication immediately. Gather all evidence and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).