Law Hypothetical

Look what happened to this law firm's settlement payout, so it doesn't happen to yours

By FraudMeNot Team

Label: Hypothetical. "Hypothetical scenario." (Fictional firm and people; reflects common BEC patterns reported to the FBI.)

The story (hypothetical)

A two-attorney firm settles a personal-injury case. The client emails: "I changed banks. Please send my share to this new account." The email comes from the client's real address, because the client's personal email was compromised. The paralegal updates the payee and sends the wire from the trust account.

A week later, the real client calls asking where the money is.

What's real behind it

• This is the same playbook prosecutors described in a real $25 million+ scheme: break into email, watch for big payments, then send "new bank details." (See story 06; Source 2)
• BEC losses reported to IC3 in 2025: $3,046,598,558 across 24,768 complaints. (Source 1)

The moment it could have been stopped

The "new bank" email, even though it came from the client's real address.

Tips (general)

1. Collect payout instructions at engagement, in person or by verified call, and treat every later change as suspect.
2. Verify any change by voice on a number already in the file.
3. Use dual approval for trust-account disbursements.
4. Do a small test deposit and confirm it with the client by phone before sending a large amount.
5. If it happens, call the bank right away and file with IC3. Talk with your malpractice carrier and ethics counsel about your obligations.

Find your state: see where to report a scam in your state.

Sources

1. FBI IC3, 2025 Internet Crime Report. https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_IC3Report.pdf
2. IRS-CI, "Federal jury convicts Saluda County man and Charlotte, NC, woman for $25m wire fraud and money laundering scheme," June 11, 2026. https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/federal-jury-convicts-saluda-county-man-and-charlotte-nc-woman-for-25m-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering-scheme

Disclaimer. FraudMeNot content, including the Close Call Report, is general educational and awareness material only. It is not legal, financial, tax, compliance, or cybersecurity advice, and it is not a security service or assessment. Nothing here creates a professional or advisory relationship. Content is provided "as is" without warranties; it may contain errors or become outdated, and no step described can guarantee prevention of fraud or loss. Consult a qualified attorney, accountant, financial professional, or security provider about your specific situation. If you've been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.

Story labels. Stories may be dramatized or composite; see each label. Each story carries one label: Real, reported: nothing added or dramatized (based on public records, linked), Real, reported (based on public sources, linked; details may be dramatized), Composite/dramatized (based on common patterns; names, places and numbers are invented, and any resemblance to real persons or firms is coincidental), or Hypothetical. People named in reported cases who haven't been convicted are presumed innocent; allegations are only allegations.

AI disclosure. Narration is AI-generated (text-to-speech). Scripts are researched and reviewed by a person. Some visuals may be AI-generated or stock.

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