Law Firm Issues Public Alert Over Scammers Impersonating Office to Target Foreign Clients
A local law firm has raised the alarm after a suspected organized group allegedly impersonated its office to send fraudulent demand letters to foreign clients, sparking concerns over a sophisticated phishing or extortion scheme.
Fraudulent Letters and Fake Website Uncovered
Lawyer Khen Aquino, founding partner of Aquino Gaviola Cavalida Law, revealed in a phone interview that the firm received multiple messages in early February from concerned foreigners verifying the legitimacy of letters they had received. "They were addressed to them, with their names and addresses. Apparently, it’s from our firm, but with a different logo and a fake partner named Thomas Laragan," Aquino stated.
The scammers reportedly created a website nearly identical to the law firm’s, altering only the domain name, and utilized the firm’s genuine address and contact details to lend credibility to their deceptive operations.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Advisory
The motive behind this scheme appears to be phishing or extortion, according to Aquino, though investigations are still ongoing to uncover the full extent of the fraud. "So far, six people have reached out to us in the United States. It’s concerning because they made it look completely legitimate," he added, highlighting the potential for financial and reputational damage.
In response, the firm has issued a public advisory to warn clients and the broader community. Additionally, plans are underway to report the matter to the Philippine National Police Cybercrime Group for further action and to prevent similar incidents.
Broader Implications and Warnings
Aquino cautioned that other law firms, businesses, or public figures could also be targeted by such organized groups, which often replicate logos and websites to execute similar fraudulent schemes. This incident underscores the growing threat of cybercrime and the need for heightened vigilance in verifying official communications.
The firm urges anyone who receives suspicious correspondence to verify its authenticity directly through official channels and to report any potential scams to authorities promptly.
