Several cases of cybercriminals posing as solicitors under investigation

This has happened as many as six times in the past year, according to the head of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.

Detective Chief Superintendent Pat Lordan said the criminals may also try to impersonate other professionals.

At a conference on the latest EU money-laundering directive, he explained that their modus operandi was to pose as a solicitor emailing the finance department of a firm.

In one example, an insurance company was contacted by a fraudster pretending to be a solicitor who requested that a payout due to a client be paid into a particular account.

In another case, a prospective house-buyer was contacted by a person posing as a solicitor for the seller.

The purchaser was duped into paying €200,000 into a Spanish bank account.

The Law Society warned last year of the dangers of cybercriminals using malware to gain access to computer systems and the information necessary for their frauds.