BLS has received the following from Des Hudson at The Law Society concerning potential fraudulent emails being sent out by hackers using the Law Society’s address.

Dear colleagues

As you may know, yesterday we were alerted to the dispatch of emails purporting to come from the Law Society.

Following an urgent consultation with our colleagues in the IT department we have issued a press release, a briefing via the Gazette and updated our practice advice service so that we can assist members facing these potential threats.

From speaking with our colleagues in IT we believe that this incident is the third attempt to obtain confidential data for what we believe is an attempted fraudulent deception. The two previous occasions involved letters purporting to originate from SRA.

As before I can confirm that none of the Law Society’s systems have been compromised or penetrated and that rather these emails are using publicly available information to target particular solicitors firms.

We have reported the matter to the National Crime Agency and we will be cooperating fully with them.

I have taken the liberty of copying this note to all members of the Law Society’s council since they may be faced with enquires from constituents or other local law societies and they may find it useful to respond.

I have also provided the link to the information we have placed on our website. You will find a series of useful links and further guidance on the site.

In the mean time I will of course keep you advised of any further developments.

Desmond Hudson

Chief executive