1. Home
2. Daily News
3. Phishing emails purported to be from PACER’s…

Cybersecurity

Phishing emails purported to be from PACER’s electronic filing system target lawyers

By Debra Cassens Weiss

November 7, 2024, 9:42 am CST

Lawyers who respond to fake emails purporting to be from PACER’s electronic filing system are being led to malicious websites with computer viruses, the U.S. federal judiciary warned Wednesday.

The emails claim to contain notices of electronic filing from PACER’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files system, known as CM/ECF. Lawyers are told to reply immediately, and when they do, they are sent a link to access the supposed case documents. Instead, the link sends lawyers to the malicious website.

The scam targets lawyers across the country, according to the IT Security Office for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

“To avoid becoming a victim of the scam,” the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts said, “be sure to always validate cases and case documentation directly through your local federal court’s CM/ECF system. Never download attachments or click on links from unofficial or questionable sources.”

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The California Desert District is lifting seasonal fire restrictions as of Thurs., Oct. 24, by midnight, to safely allow campfires and target shooting on BLM-managed public lands in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, southern Inyo, eastern Mono, San Diego, and eastern Kern counties. Restrictions on smoking will also be lifted on BLM-managed public lands within San Diego, eastern Kern, western Riverside, western San Bernardino, and eastern Los Angeles counties.

“We continue to ask the public to practice safety and awareness when using fire or participating in recreational target shooting on public lands,” said BLM California Desert District Manager Shelly Lynch.  

Use of campfires, barbecues and gas stoves on BLM-managed public lands will be allowed with a valid California campfire permit. Campfire permits are required outside of developed campgrounds and are available for free online at ReadyForWildfire.org and at the BLM, Forest Service and CAL FIRE offices.

During Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches, as determined by the National Weather Service, all recreational target shooting and use of campfires will be suspended to reduce the potential of unintended wildland fire ignitions. Check with your local BLM Field Office for more information on specific locations.

Year-round fire restrictions including the statewide Fire Prevention Order and the California Desert District Year-Round Fire Prevention Order, will remain in place for all BLM-managed public lands in California. Year-round fire restrictions require a year-round campfire permit, maintaining a five-foot diameter clearance around campfires, guidance for extinguishing campfires on BLM-managed public lands in California and prohibit the possession and use of steel jacketed or steel core ammunition and all campfires and recreational target shooting during any Red Flag Warning or Fire Weather Watch.

The public is reminded to exercise extreme caution when using fire and to follow these precautions:

• Always have a five-foot circle cleared around your campfire.
• Always have a shovel and plenty of water on hand and put your campfire DEAD OUT, before leaving.
• Never use steel targets, steel jacketed or steel core ammunition for recreational shooting as they are more likely to cause a fire.
• Always park vehicles away from areas where exhaust could cause grass or other combustibles to ignite.

Visit the California Fire Information and Fire Restrictions website for an interactive map and listing of fire restrictions throughout BLM California. For alternative recreational target shooting locations visit WhereToShoot.org.

For more BLM information about wildfire prevention, please contact the California Desert District Office at 951-697-5200; Barstow Field Office at 760-252-6000; El Centro Field Office at 760-337-4400; Needles Field Office at 760-326-7000; Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office at 760-833-7100; or Ridgecrest Field Office at 760-384-5400.

A Florida woman is behind bars after enlisting a child to help her conduct a serious — and seriously expensive — bout of shoplifting at a Target last weekend, police in the Sunshine State say.

Elizabeth Novac, 23, stands accused of one count each of grand theft — larceny over $750 but less than $5,000, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor by causing a child to commit an act of delinquency, according to Lee County Sheriff’s Office records.

The odd, striking, and memorable nature of the alleged crime appears to have led to her arrest several days after the fact.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management seasonal fire restrictions are no longer in effect in the California Desert District, which means campfires and target shooting may now resume on BLM-managed public lands in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, southern Inyo, eastern Mono, San Diego and eastern Kern counties.

“Although the District seasonal fire restrictions have lifted, we continue to ask the public to practice safety when using fire or participating in recreational target shooting on public lands,” said BLM California Desert District Manager Shelly Lynch. “The BLM appreciates the public’s cooperation in helping to reduce the number of human-caused wildfires.”

Use of campfires, barbecues and gas stoves on BLM-managed public lands within the California Desert District are allowed with a valid California campfire permit. Campfire permits are required outside of developed campgrounds and are available free online at www.ReadyForWildfire.org and at BLM, U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire offices.

During Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches, as determined by the National Weather Service, all recreational target shooting and use of campfires will be suspended to reduce the potential of unintended wildland fire ignitions. Check with your local BLM Field Office for more information on specific locations.

Year-round fire restrictions including the statewide Fire Prevention Order and the California Desert District Year-Round Fire Prevention Order, remain in place for all BLM-managed public lands in California. Year-round fire restrictions require a year-round campfire permit, maintaining a five-foot diameter clearance around campfires, guidance for extinguishing campfires on BLM-managed public lands in California and prohibit the possession and use of steel jacketed or steel core ammunition and all campfires and recreational target shooting during any Red Flag Warning or Fire Weather Watch.

The public is reminded to exercise extreme caution when using fire and to follow these precautions:

• Always have a five-foot circle cleared around your campfire.
• Always have a shovel and plenty of water on hand and put your campfire DEAD OUT, before leaving.
• Never use steel targets, steel jacketed or steel core ammunition for recreational shooting as they are more likely to cause a fire.
• Always park vehicles away from areas where exhaust could cause grass or other combustibles to ignite.

An interactive map and listing of fire restrictions throughout BLM California, are available here. For alternative recreational target shooting locations, visit www.wheretoshoot.org. Additional information about wildfires is on Cal Fire’s website.

For more BLM information about wildfire prevention, please contact the California Desert District Office at 951-697-5200; Barstow Field Office at 760-252-6000; El Centro Field Office at 760-337-4400; Needles Field Office at 760-326-7000; Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office at 760-833-7100; or Ridgecrest Field Office at 760-384-5400.