Scams!
1. Nigerian scam. Hack your email. "Help, I am traveling and lost my wallet. Please wire money to me at ___________________________."
2. Craigslist scam. Scrape your listing info and re-post online as a rental. Defenses: google alert your listing information (address, photos, etc.). Report to SCR and FBI at www.ic3.gov and Craigslist
3. Wire scam. Hack your email. When you send email with wiring instructions for say money to closing attorney, the hackers intercept your email and put their wiring account and remove the law firm wiring account. Defenses: tell clients to always check with me verbally to confirm routing numbers.
4. Counterfeit paper checks. Assume all paper checks are counterfeit until proven otherwise. Even a real check can be claimed to be stolen or lost to get a stop payment. International checks have a 90+ day float. Defenses: require wires. If sender is questionable, set up temporary account to take the wire and then move the money to another bank where you have another account. Never wire money back on a paper check (full or partial or overage amount) until the check is completely cleared (may take 90+ days).
5. Patent trolls. Contact SCR. SCR is working on a SC bill to solve this. Some one will patent something obvious like "using a bizhub in your office" then send you a licensing agreement that costs less than defending a potential patent lawsuit.