Protect Yourself from Phishing and Fraud

In the digital age, a professional website is the cornerstone of a legitimate law firm. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are exploiting this necessity by creating sophisticated cloned law firm websites to trick unsuspecting clients, job seekers, and even vendors. These scams are a form of phishing and identity theft, designed to steal money, sensitive information, or both.

Understanding how these deceptive schemes operate is your first and best defense.

What is a Cloned Law Firm Website?

A cloned law firm website is a nearly identical replica of a genuine firm’s official site. Scammers essentially make an exact copy of the original firm, including the entire business scheme:

• Design and Layout: The color scheme, logos, professional photos, and overall structure are copied pixel-for-pixel.
• Content: Text from practice area descriptions, attorney bios, and contact pages is lifted directly from the real firm’s website.
• Professional Identity: The firm’s name, partner names, addresses, and sometimes even Bar registration numbers are used to appear legitimate.  AI Images are sometimes created to include fake bios and photos, and those fake identities are used to connect with potential victims.
• Sometimes, the only significant difference from a clone site to the real one, is the contact information and the website’s URL (web address).  Scammers will use domain names that are so close to the real one that an unsuspecting user will not catch it on first glance.

The Mechanics of the Clone Scam:

Cloned website scams typically follow an often repeated and calculated process to ensnare victims:

1. The Cloning and Setup Phase

The criminals use sophisticated software to quickly copy the target law firm’s public website. The software is readily available, as the copy website function is used for permitted reasons too.

They then register a new domain name that is very similar to the legitimate one.

• • Example: If the real firm is  smithslaw.com, the clone might be smith-laws-firm.com, smithlawus.net, or even use tricky substitutions like an uppercase "i" for a lowercase "L" in the URL.

2. The Initial Contact

The scammer initiates contact, often pretending to be an attorney or a paralegal from the firm. They typically use one of three main lures:

3. Directing the Victim to the Clone

Crucially, the scammer’s email will use an email address that matches the cloned website’s domain (e.g., attorney@smith-laws-firm.com), not the real one. When the victim checks the firm’s legitimacy by visiting the URL in the email signature, they land on the highly convincing cloned site, which instantly removes any suspicion.

4. The Request for Funds or Data

Once trust is established, the scammer will demand money or sensitive information:

5. The Fraudulent Payment (Check Scams)

In vendor or settlement scams, the scammer may send a cashier’s check or money order that appears to be valid. The victim is instructed to deposit it, keep a small portion, and immediately wire the rest to another party (the scammer). The check will ultimately bounce, leaving the victim liable for the full amount and losing the money they wired.

How to Spot a Cloned Law Firm Website

Never rely solely on the appearance of a website. 

Follow these three steps to verify the website that you are interacting with is legitimate:

1. Scrutinize the URL (Web Address)

• Type the firm’s name directly into Google and click the resulting link.  Don’t click the link provided in an email.
• Examine the URL for subtle misspellings: Look for an extra hyphen, a different TLD (e.g., .net instead of .com), or transposed letters.
• Check the “HTTPS” lock icon: While most scam sites now have this, a missing lock is an instant red flag.

2. Verify the Contact Information 

• Cross-Reference the Phone Number: Call the firm using a phone number found through an independent search (e.g., the state bar’s website or an official legal directory), not the one listed on the suspicious website or in the email.
• Check the Email Address: Law firm email addresses should always match the main domain you found via an independent search. An email address from a free service (like Gmail or Yahoo) is a massive red flag.

3. Look for Key Missing Elements

• Lack of Activity: Legitimate firms have news updates, blog posts, and recent publications. A clone often misses these dynamic, harder-to-copy elements.
• Check Attorney Bar Status: Verify the attorney’s status using the official website of the state or national bar association they claim to be a member of. Search their name directly on the bar’s public directory.
• Check the icons that are usually found at the bottom of a website for professional associations.  If you click on the link, does it work?

What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted

If you believe you have encountered a cloned law firm website scam:

1. Do Not Send Money: Immediately cease all communication and absolutely do not wire any funds or cash a suspicious check.
2. Report the Scam:  (In USA)
   • The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): For federal offenses and fraud.
   • The State Bar Association: Alert the bar of the firm that was cloned, as they can issue a public warning.
3. Alert the Genuine Firm: Notify the real law firm whose identity was stolen, using their verified contact information. They can take steps to get the fraudulent site taken down.

By being skeptical and taking a few minutes to independently verify the details, you can protect your finances and personal information from these increasingly convincing digital threats.

Awareness is your strongest defense.

Contact us if you’d like more information on how cyber intelligence can help you locate these clone scammers.

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