Phone and Email Scams

Email Scams Targeting Legal Professionals

Nov. 11, 2024 - There has been a recent surge in email scams targeting legal professionals nationwide. These emails often appear to be official communications, asking you to respond to court filings or urgent legal matters. Please be advised that these emails may contain malicious links or attachments intended to compromise your systems and access sensitive information.

To protect yourself and your practice, please remember the following:

• Verify the Source: If you receive an unexpected email about a court filing, especially from an unfamiliar sender, contact the purported sender directly through a known phone number or alternate, official email address to confirm its authenticity.
• Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links or Attachments: Scammers often include links or files that may look legitimate. Do not click or download anything unless you are absolutely sure of the sender’s identity.
• Look for Red Flags: Phishing scams often contain unusual language, urgent requests or vague references to case information. Be wary of any email that feels off or demands immediate action.
• Maintain Strong Cybersecurity Practices: Regularly update your software, use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.

If you receive a suspicious email related to court filings, please do not respond, click any links or download any attachments. Report the suspicious email to your IT department or MSP immediately for additional assistance.

Thank you for your attention and diligence in protecting your practice and our legal community.

Beware of Possible Phishing Attack Emails

July 11, 2024 - The State Bar of New Mexico's IT department has been alerted to a possible phishing attack that has targeted the members of other Bar Associations around the country. Our IT department is in close contact with the other Bar Associations around the country to proactively protect our membership from being affected. Please be aware that you may receive a possible phishing attack email purported to be from the State Bar of New Mexico. It will be from a domain address such as:

• @members-nmbar.org
• @member-nmbar.org
• @members-sbnm.org
• @member-sbnm.org

These are fraudulent domain names. If you do receive this email, please disregard it, do not respond to it, and do not click any links that may come from it, especially if you have already responded to it. 

If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact the State Bar of New Mexico's IT Department at 505-797-6018 or techsupport@sbnm.org. Thank you for your continued diligence in security. 

Warning: Fraudulent Phone Calls/Emails Regarding Contempt Orders and False Claims Re the PPP Loan Program Surface in the District of New Mexico 

February 23, 2024 - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico has recently been notified of individuals both in New Mexico and outside of New Mexico being targeted with a new phone and email scam. The targets are contacted by phone by an individual claiming to be a member of court staff or an investigator looking into false claims regarding a COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loan. The scammer informs the target that they failed to appear for a court hearing. The name given by the scammer may be an actual employee or member of the law enforcement/legal community, which helps the scammer legitimize their threats. The scammer then attempts to confirm an email address with the target, and once confirmed the scammer sends the target a variety of documents purportedly signed by a judge, including an Order of Arrest and an Investigation Notice. The judge’s name may be an actual federal judge. The scammer may eventually ask for personal identifiers or for immediate payment of fines, but this information is not always made during the initial contact. While court and jury related scam calls and emails have been occurring for several years in New Mexico, this is the first report the District of New Mexico has received in which documents purportedly signed by a judge are sent to the target.

The U.S. District Court will never ask for sensitive information in an unsolicited phone call or email and will not assess a fine or penalty for failure to appear in federal court without first having the person appear before a judge.

It is a crime for anyone to falsely represent himself of herself as a federal court official and such an offense is taken very seriously by the federal judiciary. Persons receiving such a telephone call should not provide the requested information or pay any fines and should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) at (505) 889-1300, select option #1 when prompted, to report the incident. In the District of New Mexico, the individual may also contact the United States District Court at 505-348-2000 to verify that there are no matters pending before the court in their name.

Stay current with the United States Courts – District of New Mexico by visiting www.nmd.uscourts.gov

Read full press release here.