CYBER ALERT
People across Australia have lost money when hackers have impersonated a law practice or another party involved in a legal matter by altering electronic communications including email, fax, social media, text, instant messaging, applications, file sharing and documents including PDF or Word documents. The following steps are critical to reduce this risk and if you are involved in a transfer of funds these are our expectations of you in helping to reduce the risk of such loss. Any retainer with us is on the basis of the following acknowledgements by you.
For OMB Solicitors, any person transferring money will need to acknowledge the following. You:
WILL NOT
Transfer any funds (send, deposit, pay or transfer) of more than $10,000.00 AUD or its equivalent in any other currency (or give any funds transfer information you receive to someone else) without first telephoning the apparent original sender to verbally confirm the account number, details and amounts by reading out and reading back the account and BSB numbers (or other specific payment details where applicable, e.g. if not a bank account) and confirming any instructions.
WILL
When calling to check payment details above, only use a phone number for the apparent original sender which you have verified from a source that is different to the communication containing those details, for example a separate paper communication or checking the person’s website or white or yellow pages telephone listing.
WILL
Contact OMB immediately if in any doubt about emails or any other electronic communications that appear to have come from OMB.
WILL
Give the same warnings to anyone else known to be connected to the matter and anticipated to be involved in transferring or receiving any funds or funds transfer information (including but not limited to, agents, brokers, family members, accountants).
WILL
Contact the sender to check legitimacy before you open attachments, click on hyperlinks or download buttons in unexpected emails.
WILL
Contact OMB by telephone to confirm verbally any changes to your bank account details.
⚠ PLEASE NOTE
OMB will not transfer money out of our practice until OMB are able to verify any funds transfer information by a voice call to confirm those details (by reading out and reading back the account and BSB numbers or other specific payment details where applicable, e.g. if not a bank account). You understand you must make sure you can be contacted if you need any funds transferred by a specific time, otherwise your objectives may not be met.
