"AvoidAClaim" Blog

Two realtors in the U.S. have advised us that they have been contacted by the purported Hideki Matsui with regards to a real estate bad cheque deposit scam. As with scams under the names Shiukmoda Joji and Jyoung Chung Tu, it appears that this fraud is a set-up for a request to return real estate deal deposit monies paid with a bad cheque. Ontario lawyers should be on the lookout as well. For a full description of how this fraud works and a list of names associated with it, see our Confirmed Fraud page.

What’s new with this particular fraud is that it uses the name of a famous person (baseball player Hideki Matsui) to attempt to bury any fraud-related Google results among the results related to the real person.

Here is an example of the email:

Hideki Matsui
RE: Property Search
November 18, 2011 7:08:56 PM EST

Regards

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Three Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve received emails from the purported Mary Jacob Sanitra looking to retain them with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. This is similar to other frauds of this kind we have seen. For a full description of how this fraud works and to see other names attached to it, see our Confirmed Fraud page that deals with business load frauds.

Here is an example of the email:

From: Sanitra Mary Jacob [mailto:sanitramary_j@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2011 11:56 AM
To: lawyer name
Subject: LEGAL AID

Sanitra Mary Jacob
Flat 10, 12/F, Acacia Building
150 Kennedy Road
WAN CHAI
HONG KONG
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

A lawyer who replied got this response:

Thank you for your response, I am sorry for the slight delay, I am in Hong Kong to see my sick mum and take better care of her, my direct line 85228682272. Below is the name of the borrower and please do open communication with him:

Regards
Sanitra Mary Jacob
+852 28682272

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The Department of Justice just announced that the Federal Child Support Guidelines (Federal Guidelines) have been amended to update the Federal Child Support Tables (Federal Tables) used to determine child support amounts. These amendments will come into force on December 31, 2011.

The 2006 Federal Tables must still be used to determine child support owed before December 31, 2011. However, the updated Federal Tables should now be used to figure out how much child support should be paid from December 31, 2011 onward.

On the Department of Justice Web site you can find the updated Federal Tables in PDF format and the Child Support Online Lookup to determine specific child support amounts under the updated Federal Tables.

Six Ontario lawyers have been received emails from the purported Ma Li Yeng with regards to a commercial debt litigation scam. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud Page. For an explanation of how this fraud works see our Fraud Fact Sheet.

Here is an example of the message:

From: MA LI YENG [mailto:maliyeng@yengbeijinguangzhouelectric.com]
Sent: November 24, 2011 9:33 PM
To: bfsimpson@barnessammon.ca
Subject: legal consultation

This is a request for your legal consultation services on behalf of my
company I would like your advice regarding possible representation on a a
breach of Contract/Collection/litigation case concerning my company and a
client in your state.I believe that the matter is within your jurisdiction
which is why I’m requesting your legal advice. After a careful review of
your firms profile as well as your qualification and experience, we are of
the opinion that your are qualified to provide the legal services as
requested. Do let me know your position in reviewing this matter, so I may
provide any additional information. I look forward to your prompt response
to our request.
Regards, MA LI YENG CEO/PRESIDENT YENG BEIJINGUANGZHOU ELECTRIC CORP 2,Xinzong 3rd Road, Private Industrial Area, Cicheng
Town,Ningbo,China
email:maliyeng@yengbeijinguangzhouelectric.com

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This 2005 legislation was enacted to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. Customer Service Standards adopted under the Act are effective on January 1, 2012 for providers of goods and services, including law firms. The Law Society has created a guide which is meant to assist legal service providers in developing the resources to comply with the Standards. The guide and suggestions for compliance with the Standards can be downloaded from the Law Society website and found in Appendix 1. This is an obligation imposed by the Province that must be observed to respect those with disabilities and avoid unfortunate consequences.

Two Ontario lawyers and one from the U.S. have notified us that they’ve received emails from the purported Hillary Higgins Green looking to retain them with regards to a breach of a loan agreement. This is similar to other frauds of this kind we have seen. For a full description of how this fraud works and to see other names attached to it, see our Confirmed Fraud page that deals with business load frauds.

Here is an example of the email:

From: hillary higgins [mailto:hillaryhigginsgreenj@gmail.com]
Sent: October-15-11 2:54 AM
To: lawyer name
Subject: PLEASE I NEED YOU TO ASSIST ME

Mrs. Hillary Higgins Green

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Four lawyers in the U.S. have received emails from the purported Richard Otiz (or Richard O. Steve) with regards to a commercial debt litigation scam. Its likely Ontario lawyers will start receiving them soon. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud Page. For an explanation of how this fraud works see our Fraud Fact Sheet.

Here is an example of the message:

From: Richard Otiz [mailto:web.offi.8.5.6.1.1@att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 8:45 AM
To: lawyer name
Subject: Legal question

I am Richard Otiz, I entered into a contract with one Mr. Warren Roberts to
supply me with Car carrier trucks, and as I write the Trucks purchased are
yet to be delivered as agreed and its been over 12 months. I have made the payment for them in full and he is yet to fulfill his obligations as agreed,
and I need the contract enforced. I have the contract papers/invoice to be
provided on your request. Kindly get back to be to let me know if you can be of assistance.

A lawyer who responded got this reply:

Thanks for your e-mail message. I met Mr. Warren Robert through a business associate (Mr. Omuar Hareem) who happens to be into haulage and truck sales as well. Mr. Hareem represented that his last trucks were bought and delivered by Mr. Robert which was why I considered doing business with him.

Mr. Richard Otiz.
11 Jalan Ampang,
Malaysia.

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The Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Committee On Legal Ethics And Professional Responsibility has just released Formal Opinion 2011-200, Ethical Obligations For Attorneys Using Cloud Computing/Software As A Service While Fulfilling The Duties Of Confidentiality And Preservation Of Client Property.

As the PA Bar keeps its Ethics Opinions behind a member wall, I’ve attached a copy of it to this post. One of the Committee members has told me I am free to distribute it.

This Opinion indicates that lawyers may ethically allow client confidential material to be stored in “the cloud” provided the lawyer takes reasonable care to assure that (1) all such materials remain confidential, and (2) reasonable safeguards are employed to ensure that the data is protected from breaches, data loss and other risks.

Clearly, a lot of time and thought was put into the drafting of this Opinion. There is good background information on the issues and concerns that come up when client information in stored the cloud and when web-based mail services are used. There is also a summary listing of the ethics opinions in this issue from the ABA and other states and entities.

This Opinion considers both the practical and technology-related issues that are raised when lawyers use cloud-based services. While this Opinion is specific to PA Bar Rules of Professional Conduct, lawyers in other jurisdictions will find the information on what care and steps would be considered “reasonable” helpful in directing their own actions. It is nice to see there is a strong emphasis on lawyers being ultimately responsible for making informed decisions about the benefits and risks of placing client data in the cloud. The storing of client data can be outsourced, but the responsibility for making sure it is safe and secure remains with the lawyer.

Three Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve received emails from the purported Sharon Roddick with regards to a divorce settlement scam. The scenario outlined in the emails (involving HIV and the Japanese earthquake) is identical to an earlier fraud attempt using the name Melissa Cho Anderson. For details on how this type of fraud works and other names attached to it, see our Confirmed Fraud page.

Here is an example of the email.

From: Sharon Roddick
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:12:47 +0200
To:
Subject: Damages

Phone: +81-03-3342-358

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Three lawyers in Ontario and one in California have notified us that they have been contacted by the purported Brianna Shunshi with regards to a collaborative family law agreement collection. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For details on how this fraud works and a full list of names attached to it see our Confirmed Fraud page.

Here is an example of the email messages.

From: “briannashunshi@iprimus.com.au”
To:
Sent: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 3:36 AM
Subject: Re:

I am in need of your service with regards to enforcement/collection of divorce
settlement or possible litigation with my ex spouse. Kindly advise.
Brianna Shunshi

Here are some of the counterfeit documents attached to this fraud:

Brianna Shunshi Divorce Decree
Brianna Shunshi Entitlement Agreement
Shunshi_Collaborative_Law_Agreement

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