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Property scam
Comments
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Without removing the need to triple check the bank details, reading the various stories, I still can't understand why there seems to be zero responsibility on the companies who in most cases have their emails hacked. In the guardian link, either it's an inside job or the email of the solicitors had been compromised for a period, and yet apparently it's not the solicitors problem at all.
It is incredibly easy to spoof an email. If I had your email address I could send you a very convincing email claiming to be from anyone you could name.
You would have to examine the headers (not shown by default) to work out that it wasn’t from them. Email is inherently insecure and is also generally unencrypted so can be sniffed as it goes over the internet. It really should t be used for anything official.2.88 kWp System, SE Facing, 30 Degree Pitch, 12 x 240W Conergy Panels, Samil Solar River Inverter, Havant, Hampshire. Installed July 2012, acquired by me on purchase of house in August 20170 -
A solicitor friend had this happen to him. Fortunately, the other solicitor involved in the transaction smelled a rat, but it was a close call.No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0
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I think it's more likely that the recipient's account has been hacked, and the email sent is one from another source which looks like it's from the solicitors, but isn't actually from the solicitors' systems. In fact you don't necessarily need to hack their account, just know the client's email address and which firm of solicitors they're dealing with. Similar to scams where e.g. local authorities have been sent fake emails purporting to be from their suppliers giving new bank details for payment of invoices.
Obviously if there is actually negligence (or a crooked employee) at the solicitors then it ought to be their responsibility.
You don't need to "hack" the recipient's e-mail to send them a fake invoice.
I don't believe for a second that this is just some random thing where hackers are watching people's e-mail addresses ready to scam them.
More like it is someone at the solicitors or similar who is passing the necessaryv details onto a third party in order to get a share of the money.0 -
PersianCatLady wrote: »You don't need to "hack" the recipient's e-mail to send them a fake invoice.
I don't believe for a second that this is just some random thing where hackers are watching people's e-mail addresses ready to scam them.
More like it is someone at the solicitors or similar who is passing the necessaryv details onto a third party in order to get a share of the money.
My friend is a sole practitioner. He didn’t pass his email login details on to anyone else. Or at least not deliberately.
It’s easy enough to spoof an email address. You just need to know the transaction is taking place.No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?0 -
Or anybody else working at places with a handy list of buyers and their solicitors e.g. estate agents, mortgage brokers, lenders...PersianCatLady wrote: »More like it is someone at the solicitors or similar who is passing the necessaryv details onto a third party in order to get a share of the money.0 -
The email is intercepted, bank details changed to the fraudster`s account, before the email carries on its journey to the unsuspecting customer. The time delay can be a matter of seconds.
No it isnt.
Emails cannot be "intercepted" in that way. you have been watching too many movies.
Either the attacker has access to the victims mailbox, sees the mail arrive, deletes it and sends a similar spoof with different bank details.
Or
As above, the attacker knows in advance of the impending invoice, and sends one in advance0
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