In a troubling and sophisticated scam that nearly cost a Ponte Vedra law firm $150,000, the perpetrators exploited a combination of a compromised email account and unauthorized wire confirmations, highlighting the evolving threats to lawyers and their financial security.

On February 13, a call from the firm’s bank initially seemed routine. The bank’s representative asked to confirm a wire transfer from the firm’s operating account, requesting approval from an individual named “Robert” or “Martin.” However, no one by these names is authorized to initiate or confirm wire transfers on the firm’s behalf. Initially, the firm’s principal, who took the call, assumed the bank had dialed the wrong number or was referencing a wrong account.

It wasn’t until further investigation that a much larger issue unfolded. The day before, a wire transfer in the amount of $150,000 had been successfully initiated and confirmed. This transaction, though not recognized by the firm, had been transferred to an account labeled “Fasttrack Construction, Inc.,” at another bank.