Internet Scammers Target Law Firm (Tennessean)

[Drew Wilson]

Earlier this year, one of Nashville's largest law firms fell victim to an international fraud scheme and wired more than $400,000 to criminals in Thailand.

The firm, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, said in June that it recovered the funds after quick reaction from the FBI, but the case highlights a growing problem of Internet and wire fraud here and nationally.

Threats range from elaborate schemes to pass off bad checks to high-tech trickery to swipe consumers' debit card data and go on shopping sprees. Others use malicious software secretly downloaded onto personal computers to dip into victims' bank accounts. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, wire fraud increased 10 percent last year from 2007 levels, while credit card and ATM fraud rose 20 percent statewide.

"Certainly, there has been an increase in fraud-related crime and that's a natural product of a recession,'' said John Webb, assistant U.S. attorney in Nashville in charge of white-collar crime. "People are stressed and doing what they might not otherwise have done."

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I hope this was a law firm that worked for the RIAA/MPAA.:firedevil:

[mountain_rage]

Another case of banks not stepping up to curb security issues with internet commerce. Still don't understand why I can be given the ability to lock my online banking to a specific IP address, MAC address and allow only certain transactions online unless changed in person at the bank. This would help me, and many others lock down their banking activities. Hell it would be nice if I can specify the amount that can be charged online, vs offline on my MasterCard too, stupid corporations and their lack of security.