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Although artificial intelligence (“AI”) has the potential to change the world for the better, this technology can also be used to harm humanity.  For instance, in Thomas v. Corbyn Restaurant Development Corp., (2025) 111 Cal. App. 5th 439, a $475,000 personal-injury settlement was diverted when an unknown cybercriminal impersonated the plaintiff's law firm's office administrator using an email address that differed from the real one by just two silent edits — a dropped letter in the username and an inserted letter in the firm’s domain — while copying the signature block, with only subtly altered phone numbers.  Days after the genuine request that payment be made by check, the fake administrator asked that the funds instead be wired to the firm's IOLTA; although defense counsel rightfully became suspicious, they were convinced into acting after calling the subtly altered number and speaking to the cybercriminal who supplied directions to wire the funds to a fraudulent account.  Because no person is safe from this type of crime, Astanehe Law provides the following guidance to opposing counsel.

In the event of settlement, Astanehe Law will only accept settlement payment via physical check.  Astanehe Law will never request that defense counsel wire or otherwise send a settlement payment via electronic funds transfer.  In the event that you receive a communication from someone purporting to be Astanehe Law or affiliated with Astanehe Law requesting that you tender payment in any manner that is not a physical check, please ignore the email and contact Astanehe Law immediately for verification.  Please also note that Astanehe Law will only communicate with you in person, via telephone, via video conference (i.e. Zoom), or email.  Astanehe Law will never text or iMessage you.  Astanehe Law will not communicate with you via fax.  Astanehe Law will never communicate with you via any social media or other similar digital platform, application, or program.  These protocols are in place to protect all parties from fraud and ensure the security of our communications—when in doubt, please verify directly with Astanehe Law before acting on any request.

Astanehe Law appreciates your cooperation in observing these protocols. Together, we can prevent the kind of fraud described in Thomas.