Fennessy Law Offices

12/09/2021

SCAM OF THE WEEK:

An elaborate new Bitcoin scam targets Instagram influencers and their followers.

In this scam, cybercriminals send an influencer a phishing link that takes them to a fake Instagram login page. If the influencer tries to log in to their account, their login credentials are sent directly to the cybercriminals. Once the cybercriminals have access to the account, they can change the password and prevent the influencer from logging in.

Then, the cybercriminals offer to release control of the influencer’s account if the influencer creates a very specific video. In the video, the influencer must say they invested a small amount of money into Bitcoin and gained a huge payout. They must also tag and thank the Instagram account that belongs to their “friend” who helped them invest. Of course, this “friend” is actually the cybercriminal holding their account hostage. Once the video is created, the cybercriminals post it to the influencer’s Instagram page for all their followers to see. The end goal is for these loyal followers to send bitcoins to the cybercriminals under the assumption that they will be making an investment, just like the influencer did.

Here are some tips to stay safe from similar influencer scams:

> Hijacking a social media account is an easy way for cybercriminals to spread disinformation or scam several people at once. Don’t trust everything you see on social media, and be sure to report any suspicious activity.

> To the general public, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are still very new and complex. Before you buy coins, learn more about cryptocurrency from well-known and trusted sources.

> Never trust a get-rich-quick scheme. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Stop, Look, and Think. Don't be fooled.

09/21/2021

Recent deaths of public figures, including Aretha Franklin, Billy Graham, Stephen Hawking and Margot Kidder, raise an important issue that many people just don’t want to think about: Estate Planning.

Chances are you’ve spent plenty of time pondering how much money you’ll have available at retirement. But what have you done to plan for your Estate? The sad truth is that most of us — some 70% of adult Americans — have neglected to obtain a will.

Some think their assets are too small to worry about, others worry that the costs of writing a “last will and testament” are too high. Others just don’t get around to it. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, reportedly left an estate worth $80 million, but she failed to have a will.

But wills aren’t just vehicles for the wealthy or the morbid. If you’ve got a family and a home — not to mention a savings account — you should definitely have one.

For most people, the first time in your life that a will becomes imperative is when you have children. Forget about your assets for a minute. In the terrible event that you and your spouse die at the same time without a will, it falls to a probate court judge to name a guardian for your minor children — not a pleasant prospect. That’s why it is a crucial first step to name a guardian for your minor children. I recommend naming an alternate guardian in the document, as well, in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to take on the responsibility.

Writing a will, of course, is also your chance to clarify who gets what in your estate. Before you can do that, however, you have to tally up your assets. That includes your house, your investment portfolio, the value of your retirement plan account(s), and perhaps even the payout(s) from any life insurance coverage. After adding these things up, most folks discover that they are worth more than they initially suspected.

Once you’ve got your assets listed, you can decide what you want to leave to whom and who will be personal representative (formerly call the "executor") of your estate.

Once you have a will in place, don’t forget to review it periodically. You may want to amend it whenever there is a big change in your family’s circumstances — a birth, a death or marriage, or even if you move out of state. A will might seem like a hassle, but that’s nothing compared with the hassles your heirs will experience if you die without one.

Fennessy Law Offices are currently offering a "Fall special" with special reduced pricing for a Family Estate Plan! Now is the time to call (508) 212-3377 or email at [email protected] and set up an appointment and finally put this important need behind you! It will give you, and your family, peace of mind knowing that your legal documents have been prepared and executed properly pursuant to Massachusetts laws.

12/09/2020

Fennessy Law Offices is now scheduling contactless Covid19 Safe Will and Estate planning services at special winter pricing!

Estate Package includes a Last Will and Testament, Health Care Proxy, (often referred to as a "living will"), and Power of Attorney. Protect your children and your assets! More info, call 508-212-3377. Or respond by email to: [email protected]

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06/18/2019

Attorney Fennessy was interviewed for an article in Mass. Lawyers Weekly regarding the “leasing of pets” in Massachusetts. Article content to follow.

05/16/2019

In a divorce, deciding who gets a pet should be treated differently than deciding who gets a piece of furniture, according to a state legislator from Allegheny County. But Pennsylvania law treats pets as chattel to be divvied up, said state Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Kennedy Township. Kulik wants to change

08/22/2018

Fennessy Law Offices is now scheduling Covid Safe Will and Estate planning services at special fall pricing!

Estate Package includes a Last Will and Testament, Health Care Proxy, (often referred to as a "living will"), and Power of Attorney. Protect your children and your assets! More info, call 508-212-3377. Or respond by email to: [email protected]