According, to Scam Watch, so far this year Australians have fallen prey to scams losing $63 Million and that is just in this first financial quarter of 2021! Disturbingly, the age group most likely to fall prey are the over 65s. (Statistics courtesy of Scam Watch Australia). So, chances are you have received one of those emails telling you your long-lost uncle Bob has just died and you are one of the lucky relatives who can inherit his fortune! All you need to do is give up your identity and bank account details – simple. Yep, we are all across those dodgy internet scams! Well, it seems the scammers have gone old school, using snail mail and things called stamps on even weirder things called letters, and heaven forbid from people claiming to be lawyers, all with the aim of making the scam even more authentic. These scammers are specifically targeting age groups that are familiar with and trust a more traditional means of communicating. To learn more about how this most recent scam is effected see this link: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/get-help/real-life-stories/inheritance-scam-leo-gives-away-his-life-savings-trying-to-gain-an-inheritance
Tip:- If you want to know if someone is in fact a registered practicing lawyer, contact the local professional body. They keep a register of lawyers who are licenced and permitted to practice law in that jurisdiction. If the person is not on their register alarm bells should ring. For Queensland contact the Queensland Law Society Ph: 1300 367 757