Fake Solicitor Email Scam Targets Individuals, Demands Bitcoin Payments

The UK’s Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned about a new email scam targeting individuals by impersonating solicitors and demanding Bitcoin payments.

A new email scam has been brought to light by the UK’s Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), targeting individuals with fraudulent emails that impersonate solicitors and demand Bitcoin payments. This scam is part of a growing trend where cybercriminals leverage cryptocurrency to exploit unsuspecting victims.

According to the SRA, the fraudulent email appears to originate from a solicitor named “Patrice Joyce,” with “[email protected]” as the email address. The scam email claims to have the recipient’s data and threatens to release damaging videos unless a Bitcoin payment is made.

The SRA has clarified that there is no solicitor named Patrice Joyce authorized or regulated by the authority. It also noted that the email domain “@attwaters.co” is a counterfeit and is not linked to the legitimate law firms Attwaters Solicitors or Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors.

These firms’ legitimate email domains end in “@attwatersjamesonhill.co.uk” or “@attwaters.co.uk.” Furthermore, the email address used includes the name of a real solicitor, Manjot Kaur Henchie, known as Joyti, who works at Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. However, Henchie and her company have denied any involvement with the scam email.

SRA’s Caution

In light of this scam, the SRA has advised individuals to exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence if they receive suspicious emails. Recipients should verify the email’s authenticity by contacting the law firm directly through reliable means and checking the SRA’s records to confirm the individual or firm’s authorization.

This scam is part of a broader pattern of email extortion schemes demanding cryptocurrency payments. In 2020, New Zealand law enforcement warned about a cryptocurrency scam where fraudsters claimed to have compromising information about victims’ online activities.

Compound Finance Site Hijack

In other news, crypto investigator ZachXBT has alerted the cryptocurrency community to a hack on the Compound Finance website, which is redirecting users to a phishing site. His findings indicate that the website’s URL now leads to a recently registered phishing site.

Michael Lewellen, a security adviser at the Compound Finance DAO, confirmed the breach and echoed ZachXBT’s warning. He advised users to avoid interacting with the site to prevent any loss of assets. However, Lewellen assured the community that the core protocol and the smart contract funds remain secure and untouched.

Previous Security Incidents

This incident marks the second time that Compound Finance has faced a security challenge. In 2023, the decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol’s official social media account was hacked.

The attackers used the account to promote a phishing website, posting advertisements for free crypto tokens and urging users to click on a malicious link. The team eventually recovered the account after four hours.

Phishing attacks have become a growing concern in the cryptocurrency industry, posing significant financial risks. In 2024 alone, phishing attacks have resulted in nearly $498 million in losses.

Ronghui Gu, CEO of CertiK, a blockchain security firm, highlighted the importance of adopting multifactor authentication (MFA) and other robust security practices to protect user data and assets. MFA, which requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource, greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

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