De Rebus → Issues → Archive 2016 → Scam alert – scamster purporting to have paid funds from the LSSA incorrectly into law firm bank account and requesting refund

Scam alert – scamster purporting to have paid funds from the LSSA incorrectly into law firm bank account and requesting refund

January 27th, 2016
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Compiled by Barbara Whittle

The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) has been made aware of a scam in December 2015 in which a caller, ‘Antony’, purports to be from the LSSA and to have deposited funds incorrectly into the attorneys’ firm bank account, and then requests a refund.

The LSSA urges attorneys to be vigilant and alert to such scams and to inform their bookkeeping staff too.

Some signs to look out for:

  • Incorrect address on the document.
  • Telephone number is a fax number.
  • Incorrect banking details for the LSSA.
  • Signatory provides only a cell phone number.
  • E-mail address is not an LSSA e-mail address but a generic one.

Good practice always requires confirmation from the client (telephonic and written) and from the client’s bank (stamped original).

If you receive a request regarding incorrect payments from the LSSA, please contact the LSSA Finance Department immediately at (012) 366 8800 or e-mail: contact@LSSA.org.za to confirm whether this is a legitimate transaction or a scam.

Compiled by Barbara Whittle, communication manager, Law Society of South Africa, barbara@lssa.org.za

This article was first published in De Rebus in 2016 (Jan/Feb) DR 15.

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