(日本語)
We would like to take this opportunity to inform you that we are aware of an ongoing situation regarding unsolicited e-mails impersonating our employees. Upon investigation, we have discovered that our computers were infected with an aggressive virus. We have taken immediate security measures to prevent further infection and cleanse the virus from the affected computers. However, as a result, there is a possibility that unsolicited e-mails have been sent to customers who have been in contact with us in the past. We offer our deepest apologies for the inconvenience and concern caused to our customers and related parties.
We have submitted a damage report to the Atago Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and have set up a project team to take the utmost measures to restore operations.
We would like to report on the background of this matter and our future actions below.
1. Overview
Our computers were infected by an e-mail containing a virus that is assumed to be Emotet. The virus is currently spreading worldwide, and the Japanese government agency IPA (Independent Administrative Agency) is investigating its spread. The IPA and the Metropolitan Police Department have also issued an alert. The characteristic feature is that the Emotet-carrying e-mail misuses (spoofs) part of the name, e-mail address, and e-mail contents of a real person with whom the recipient of the attack mail has exchanged e-mails in the past. In doing so, the attack mail pretends to be a reply to a legitimate e-mail.
2. Cooperation and requests to customers who receive unsolicited e-mails claiming to be from us
Please do not open email attachments carelessly, as this may lead to secondary infection. For normal emails from us, please make sure that the sender's email address domain is @attorney-office.com. Also, do not open suspected malicious attachments as they are a feature of Emotet and should be deleted immediately. If you have any concerns or doubts about an e-mail attachment, please ask us.
3. Current damage situation
At this time, there have been no reports of damage (leak of personal information, etc.)
4. Future actions
We take the above situation very seriously and have taken emergency measures such as increasing the level of our anti-virus software. In order to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, we will strive to strengthen and thoroughly manage personal information and do our utmost to restore trust.
Naoto Murai, CEO/Representative Director
IMS Legal Professional Corporation
March 2, 2022
