Beware of scams! Fake law firms are offering bankruptcy services

Recently, there has been a rise in cases where scammers set up fake law firms to defraud unsuspecting victims of their money. These nonexistent firms offer supposed bankruptcy-related services, which are never delivered after payment is made. The German Federal Bar Association (BRAK) and the Hamburg Bar Association have therefore issued urgent warnings and advise caution. The following section explains the scammers’ methods and measures for those affected in more detail.

Fake law firm websites

One of the affected sites is "kanzlei-luepertz.de." This purported law firm uses the profile of a real lawyer without her knowledge and offers non-existent goods from insolvency liquidations. There are indications of other fake law firms such as "kanzlei-wendler-matz.de" and "richter-rechtsanwaelte.net." However, all three sites are no longer accessible.

The scammers’ modus operandi

The scammers are extremely clever in their approach to creating a professional impression and gaining their victims’ trust. First, they created a website that closely mimics the sites of real law firms. In doing so, they place great emphasis on a professional design modeled after the look and feel of renowned law firms.

A particularly sophisticated part of their strategy is identity theft. The photos of the alleged lawyers featured on the fake websites are taken from genuine law firm sites. These images—and often the names as well—are used without the knowledge of the individuals concerned. This is intended to give the impression that they are experienced and reputable attorneys.

The main items offered are goods from supposed bankruptcy liquidations. These goods are presented at attractive prices to lure potential buyers. However, after making contact and paying—which is often required in advance—buyers receive no goods whatsoever. Instead, the scammers vanish without a trace, and the supposed law firms can no longer be reached.

To minimize the risk of their deception being exposed, the scammers often use fake legal notices and contact information. The phone numbers and email addresses lead nowhere or to further fake contact points. Through this sophisticated approach, the scammers manage to deceive their victims and steal large sums of money without being discovered themselves.

Steps for Victims

Victims who have been contacted by these fake law firms should file a criminal complaint. It is advisable to carefully verify the authenticity of the sending law firms. The National Official Directory of Attorneys can help verify the attorneys’ licenses and actual practice. You can find the National Directory of Attorneys here.

However, the case of the stolen identity shows that even this verification is sometimes insufficient. Therefore, remain vigilant, especially regarding offers that seem too good to be true. In most cases, they are.

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