The Tennessee Bar Association is aware that fraudulent phishing schemes periodically target the broader legal community, which often includes our members. Malefactors impersonate TBA officers and staff members through deceptive emails intended to harvest personal information and financial data, or to gain unauthorized access to professional accounts.

Current Threats

We have received reports of suspicious emails that

• Impersonate TBA officers and staff, including the president, secretary, treasurer and executive director.
• Use official-looking email addresses that closely resemble legitimate TBA domains.
• Request immediate actions, such as wire transfers, gift card purchases or urgent payments, and/or request confirmation of contact information.
• Request sensitive information, including login credentials, Social Security numbers or banking details.
• Create a false sense of urgency by claiming emergencies or time-sensitive matters.

Example Phishing/Spoofing Email:

From: Sheree C. Wright <sheree.wright@tba.org.sendcrp.com>
To: John Smith
Subject: Smith Law Group

Dear John Smith
I hope this message finds you well. I’m reaching out directly regarding a matter that surfaced earlier this week involving a small number of firms including your firm Smith Law Group.
I need to confirm that you're the right contact person before this advances further.
In order to proceed, we must confirm your phone number so we can reach you directly.
Please reply to this message at your earliest convenience to confirm the best phone number for us to contact you.

Thank you for your swift response. We appreciate your cooperation.

Warm regards,

Tennessee Bar Association
Sheree C. Wright
Executive Director

How to Keep Yourself Safe

Verify Before You Act: Always independently verify any unusual requests by calling the TBA office directly at the published phone number (615) 383-7421, not any number provided in the suspicious email.

Scrutinize Email Addresses: Legitimate TBA communications will only come from verified @tnbar.org addresses. Be suspicious of slight variations or different domains. Staff contact ionformation can be verified at https://www.tba.org/?pg=tennessee-bar-association.

Never Provide Sensitive Information: The TBA will never request passwords, Social Security numbers, credit card information or banking details via email. This information can be updated within your MyTBA profile.

Trust Your Instincts: If an email appears urgent, unusual or requests immediate financial action, it is likely to be a fraudulent attempt.

If You Receive a Suspicious Email, Take the Following Steps

• Do not click any links or download attachments.
• Do not reply to the email.
• Forward the suspicious email to support@tnbar.org.
• Delete the email after reporting it to your IT department or service.
• Change your passwords if you suspect you may have been compromised.

Legitimate TBA Communications

• Come from verified @tnbar.org email addresses. Official TBA email communications come from noreply@m.tnbar.membercentral.org.
• Include proper contact information with our official address and phone number.
• Never request immediate financial transactions or sensitive personal information.
• Provide a clear context for any requests and allow a reasonable time for a response.
• The TBA will invite you to update your member profile and payment methods within your MyTBA profile.

Additional Resources

If you believe you have been targeted or victimized by a phishing scam:

• Report the incident to local law enforcement.
• Consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Monitor your financial accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity.

Stay Updated

The TBA is dedicated to safeguarding our members against cyber threats. We will continuously monitor the security of our member data and communication channels and provide updates as needed. For the most up-to-date security information, please visit our website at www.tba.org or follow our official communication channels.

REMEMBER: When uncertain, verify independently. Your vigilance is your best defense against scams.

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For questions about this security alert, please contact the Tennessee Bar Association at (615) 383-7421 or email support@tnbar.org.