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Fraud warning: Bogus law firms and impersonation scams
Published: May 2026
Irwell Law is aware of serious and continuing risks to the public from criminals who create fraudulent websites, bogus law firms and fake social media profiles to impersonate genuine legal practices. These scams may involve communications and documents that misuse our name, branding or the names of genuine solicitors. The aim is typically to persuade people to transfer money or to disclose personal, banking or identity information.
In New South Wales and all other Australian jurisdictions, only individuals who are admitted to the roll and hold a current valid practicing certificate may describe themselves as a solicitor. If someone claims to be a solicitor when they are not authorised, that can indicate criminal activity and should be treated with extreme caution.
Key warning signs (at a glance)
Be very cautious if any of the following apply:
You are told that the firm’s bank details have changed or asked to send funds to a new account.
You are asked to transfer money urgently or are put under pressure to act quickly.
The email address, phone number or website looks slightly different from our official details (for example, extra words, misspellings, or a different domain).
The website or message contains inconsistencies, unusual wording, or poor spelling/grammar.
You cannot verify the firm or individual on the Register of Solicitors in a relevant state or territory.
How to identify a fraudulent website, social media account or correspondence
Check the firm and the individual: Genuine solicitors and law firms appear on the Register of Solicitors. The Law Society or Legal Practitioners Board (as the case may be) in the relevant jurisdiction can confirm details such as a firm’s or individual’s identity and right to practice. If you are unsure, contact the Law Society or Legal Practitioners Board using publicly available contact details. Law Firms including Irwell Law may be domiciled in one state and operate in other states.
Check the website address (URL): Make sure you are on our official website by checking the URL in your browser’s address bar. Our official website is https://www.irwell-law.com.au. Be cautious of any slight variations, additional words, hyphens, or different endings.
Look for a secure connection: When you visit our website, check that the address begins with “https://” and that a padlock icon is shown in the address bar. This indicates the connection is encrypted (although encryption alone does not guarantee a site is genuine).
Verify contact information independently: Scammers may provide convincing but false phone numbers, email addresses or office addresses. Cross-check contact details against those published on our official website and avoid using details contained only in the suspicious message.
Examine the site or profile carefully: Fraudulent sites and social media profiles can look professional but may contain subtle differences (for example, altered branding, missing pages, unusual wording, or inconsistent contact details). Compare with our official website and be cautious if anything seems inconsistent.
Regulators: In New South Wales, solicitors and persons providing legal services are regulated by the Law Society of New South Wales, and law firms and individuals can be checked on the register of solicitors or equivalent in each state or territory.
Check correspondence carefully: While it is not possible to provide an exhaustive list, the following factors may indicate a scam:
- Suspicious email domains – our firm will only use approved email addresses that properly incorporate “irwell-law.com.au”. Any differences in spelling, additional words, or different domains should be treated as highly suspicious.
- Unexpected or inconsistent telephone numbers – including numbers you have not used before or numbers that divert to unfamiliar call-back services.
- Errors in letterheading – for example, misspelling the firm name, address or office location.
- Pressure to act urgently – for example, time-limited demands, threats, or insistence that you must transfer funds immediately.
- Requests to change bank details – especially where you are asked to send money to a new account or to “confirm” your bank details by email.
Be cautious with “verified” social media badges: Some platforms display verification badges, but these are not guaranteed proof of legitimacy. Check that the account links back to our official website and that the handle, followers and historical posts are consistent with a genuine firm profile.
Look for poor spelling, grammar or inconsistencies: Mistakes, contradictory details, or unusual wording can indicate a site, or message has been created quickly without proper checks.
Be wary of aggressive prompts or pop-ups: Excessive advertising, requests for urgent action, or claims that an offer will expire may be signs of a scam.
What to do if you encounter a suspicious website, social media page or message
Stop and verify: If you think a letter, email, text message or phone call is not genuine, do not respond using the contact details provided in that message. Instead, verify independently by using the contact details published on our official website.
Do not share information or click links: Do not provide personal, banking or payment information, and do not open unexpected attachments or click links in suspicious messages.
Report it to us: Please forward suspicious emails or details of suspicious websites/social media profiles to [email protected]. If possible, include screenshots and the web address (URL).
Report to the Law Society of NSW or other state or territory: You can report concerns about bogus solicitors or law firms to each state or territories regulator using their published contact options.
Contact your bank immediately: If you have transferred money or shared payment details, contact your bank or card provider straight away and follow their advice on securing your accounts.
Consider reporting to your state or territory cybercrime unit: If you have lost money or provided sensitive information, you may also wish to report the matter to your state or territory’s police force.
Our commitment to your safety
We take the risk of impersonation and fraud seriously and are actively working to identify and report fraudulent websites, profiles and communications that misuse our name. Thank you for your vigilance and continued trust.
If you have concerns about any communication claiming to be from us, please contact us using the details published on our official website or email [email protected].
Disclaimer
If you receive any message asking you to provide bank details, change bank details, or transfer money, you should not act on it unless you have verified it by calling us using the telephone number published on our official website, this site currently redirects to a subpage on Peninsula Australia’s website. We recommend that you always carry out a verbal check before transferring funds or sharing sensitive information. We will not be liable for losses or damage incurred by you in responding to fraudulent emails or where no verbal check has been made.