New email scam targets New Zealand lawyers

An email scam which targets lawyers is being received by some members of the New Zealand legal profession, the New Zealand Law Society says.

The scam purports to be from the manager of a large multinational oil company and asks the targeted lawyer to be their representative for North American customers.

“We got your contact through the International Bar Association and after going through your profile, we are of the [sic] convinced that you are qualified to provide the legal services we require,” the email says.

“We are of the opinion that the ability to consolidate payments from Australia – New Zealand will eradicate delays due to inter-continental monetary transaction between the United Kingdom and Australia – New Zealand.”

The email purports to come from a Maxwell Logan and is allegedly sent by “Mrs Alice Wood” from the multinational’s Human Resource Department.

The New Zealand Law Society says lawyers who receive the email should delete it. Identical emails were sent in 2009 to Canadian lawyers, prompting a fraud alert from the Ontario Bar Association.

The Law Society maintains a special scam alert section on its my.lawsociety website at http://my.lawsociety.org.nz/in_practice/practice_management/email_scam_information

© New Zealand Law Society 2008