Fraudulent Scams Alerts.

 

Beware of scams impersonating Wotton Kearney

Fraudulent communications using Wotton Kearney name and/or branding.

We have become aware of fraudulent communications falsely claiming to be sent on behalf of Wotton Kearney.

It is important to recognise the tactics employed in these scams to protect yourself from loss.

What to watch out for

The most common example is the sending of fake copyright infringement notices that appear to be legitimate and sent by our firm. These fraudulent emails will assert a violation by you of copyright laws and demand immediate action, payment, or personal information.

Watch out for these red flags:

  • Urgent Language: Claims requiring immediate action; or threatening legal consequences within 24
    hours
  • Payment Demands: Requests for payment, fines, or settlement fees to resolve the issue
  • Personal Information: Asks for sensitive data like bank details or passwords
  • Suspicious Links: Contains links to external websites that don’t match our official domain
  • Poor Grammar: Contains spelling errors, poor grammar, or unprofessional language
  • Generic Addresses: Sent from free email services (Gmail, Yahoo) instead of our official domain. Examples of Fraudulent Email Characteristics below:

Fake email Addresses:

  • “legal-dept@gmail.com”
  • “copyright-team@yahoo.com”
  • “WottonKearneyLegal@outlook.com”

Urgent Subject Lines:

  • “FINAL NOTICE: Copyright Violation”
  • “Legal Action Required – 24 Hours”
  • “Immediate Payment Required”

Suspicious Content:

  • “Pay $500 to avoid lawsuit”
  • “Click here to verify your account”
  • “Provide SSN for verification”

How to verify legitimate communications

Follow these steps to verify if an email is genuine:

  1. Check the sender’s email address: Legitimate emails from us will only come from @wottonkearney.com addresses
  2. Look for official branding: Our legitimate emails include proper logos, formatting, and contact information
  3. Contact us directly: If you receive a suspicious email, call any of our office (the contact details are on our website www.wottonkearney.com) or visit our website directly or email our Privacy Officer at privacyofficer@wottonkearney.com
  4. Never click suspicious links: Always navigate to our official website independently rather than clicking email links

How to protect yourself

  1. Do NOT respond or click any links in the suspicious email
  2. Do NOT provide any personal information or make any payments
  3. Forward the email to us at privacyofficer@wottonkearney.com for investigation
  4. Delete the email after forwarding it to us
  5. Consider reporting it to relevant authorities.
    • In Australia: You can report scams to Scamwatch at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
    • If you’re outside Australia: Check your local government or consumer protection websites for their fraud reporting mechanisms.

Need help or Have Questions

If you’ve received a suspicious email that alleges it has been sent by or on behalf of Wotton Kearney or you need to verify the legitimacy of a communication from Wotton Kearney, please contact us immediately through our official channels:

Privacy Officer Email: privacyofficer@wottonkearney.com

Phone: +61 2 8273 9900

Website: https://www.wottonkearney.com

Remember: When in doubt, always contact us directly through our official website or phone number. Never use contact information provided in a suspicious email.