Law firm research
Verify Law Firm Payment Details Before Transferring Money
An expected invoice can still contain fraudulent payment details if a message has been intercepted or impersonated. Before transferring money to a law firm, confirm the recipient and instructions through a separate, trusted channel. A convincing logo or an existing email thread is not sufficient proof.
General information only — not legal advice. Search Solicitors is a directory and information resource, not a law firm. Laws and procedures vary across Australia and may change. Seek advice from an appropriately qualified Australian legal practitioner about your own circumstances. A firm profile is not an endorsement or a guarantee of qualifications, availability or outcomes.
Pause when payment instructions change
Scamwatch describes payment-redirection scams in which an impersonator supplies bank details controlled by the scammer. Treat a new account or an urgent change as a reason to verify. Avoid using the phone number in the suspicious instruction as your only check. A change can be legitimate, but it still needs independent confirmation.
Use a phone number obtained independently
Contact the firm using details you have already verified, such as an established contact channel. Explain that you are checking a payment instruction and ask the appropriate person to confirm it. If you cannot reach them, do not substitute a reply to the questionable email for a separate verification. Keep the question focused on the payment and recipient.
Confirm what the payment is for
Ask which invoice, file or agreed expense the payment relates to and how the firm wants it referenced. Resolve any mismatch between the amount requested and your agreement before sending money. Verification of bank details and agreement about the bill are separate checks: passing one does not automatically answer the other.
Act promptly if something seems wrong
If you suspect you have sent money to a fraudulent account, contact your bank immediately using its official channel. Contact the real firm separately so it can investigate the instruction and follow the current reporting guidance from Scamwatch. Do not send a second payment merely because another message claims the first transfer failed.
Worked comparison example
Hypothetical incident: a familiar-looking email says the firm has changed banks and asks for urgent payment. Instead of calling the new number in that email, use the firm’s previously confirmed number and ask it to verify the instruction. The check should happen before the transfer.
This is an original hypothetical example, not a client story or assessment of any listed firm.
Your preparation checklist
Copy these prompts into private notes or print this page. Do not enter personal case details into a directory search.
- Independent contact number
- Recipient and account confirmation
- Invoice purpose and reference
- Explanation of any changed instructions
- Record of the confirmation
Frequently asked questions
Does an email inside an existing thread prove it is genuine?
No. Confirm unusual or changed payment instructions using a separately verified contact channel.
Sources and scope
Sources consulted 30 September 2026. State-specific sources describe that jurisdiction; they do not establish a single national rule. Examples and checklists are editorial preparation aids. General information only, not legal advice.
How we prepare and update content →