A scam that has become increasingly popular with scammers involves getting the name and basic business information about a legitimate lawyer and then setting up a phony website in the lawyer’s name.  Often the scammers merely steal the business cards for legitimate lawyers to gain the information necessary to establish a legitimate looking website.  Once the website is established, unwitting clients contact the lawyer in response to the website.  They then pay fees for services that are never rendered.  Sometimes they even meet with the scammers impersonating lawyers, but never at the lawyer’s office.  As a courtesy the lawyer comes to your home or meets at some other location.

TIP

When you meet with a lawyer, at least initially, it should be in the lawyer’s office to help confirm that he or she is legitimate.  You also can generally find a photograph of lawyers on line to match against the person you meet.