Summary
This scheme combines a number of exploitation tactics including targeting vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly; exploiting victims' emotional state and financial need to recover funds from a previous scam; and giving victims the sense of safety and security by impersonating or falsely affiliating themselves with multiple government entities. Contact with scammers impersonating law firms continue to pose many risks, including the theft of personal data and funds from unsuspecting victims to the reputational harm of actual lawyers being impersonated. Red Flag Indicators of Potential Fictitious Law Firm Activity: Impersonation of actual lawyers and/or legitimate law firms and the production of fictitious documents with a legitimate law firm insignia or letterhead. Impersonation or affiliation as official authorized partners with multiple US and foreign government or regulatory entities. There are no law firms which are officially authorized partners of US Government agencies.