"AvoidAClaim" Blog

Social media and online networking is a new frontier for many lawyers, presenting new opportunities to connect with clients…but also new risks. Dan Pinnington has an article in July 20 edition of Lawyer’s Weekly looking at how family lawyers can take steps to protect themselves when interacting with clients on social media.

For further reading on this subject, be sure to also check out Social Media Pitfalls to Avoid from the December 2009 edition of LAWPRO Magazine.

A lawyer in Washington State received an email from the purported Ray Aubrey of Electronic Resources Inc 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 the initial email:

From: Ray Aubrey [mailto:rayaubreyray@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 12:42 PM
To: lawyer email
Subject: Debt Collection

Ray Aubrey (President)
Electronic Resources, Inc.
534 Ohohia Street # A
Honolulu, HI 96819-1989
rayaubreyray@gmail.com

When the lawyer replied he got this response:

Thanks for the your responds, our debtor information is below the debt owe $1,200,000.00, We like to know if you have conflict that will prevent you from representing us against Allied Electronics, Inc. We have explored all avenues to resolve this issue amicably, unfortunately we have not progressed as expected.

Regards
Ray Aubrey (President)

Finally, with no action taken on the lawyer’s part, the “debtor” miraculously decided to pay up:

I am delighted to inform you that I received a message from our customer they have issued a pay of $650,000.00 to your firm as a part of the money owed us to avoid litigation brought against them and to pay the balance $550,000.00 by August, 2012

Regards
Ray Aubrey

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Two Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve received an email from the purported Richard Frazier 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 loan frauds.

Here is the email:

From: Roberto Victor [mailto:robertovic@ymail.com]
Sent: July-07-12 6:30 PM
To: lawyer email
Subject: Assistance.

Sincerely
Roberto Victor
Email:robertovic@ymail.com

How to handle a real or suspected fraud (more…)

Nine Ontario lawyers have reported to us that they received the following message from the purported David Wang of China Resources Machinery Co. This scam is very similar to other breach of copyright or trademark scams we have seen over the last several months, and identical in wording to the fraud under the name of Daniel Liu. It is a setup to dupe a lawyer into wiring good funds from a trust account after depositing a fraudulent cheque received in payment of damages.

Here is a copy of the message the lawyers received. They are personally addressed, unlike many scam emails that simply start with “dear lawyer”:

From: david wang [mailto:davidwang045@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 2:48 PM
To: inquiries
Subject: Copyright Infringement

David Wang
President/Owner
China Resources Machinery Company Ltd
26 Harbour Road
Wanchai Hong Kong

One lawyer received the following fake cheque and cover letter:

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Three Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Gilbert Gill with regards to ligation on a termination matter. This is the first time we’ve seen a scam set up this way, but no doubt its aim is the same as other frauds: to have a lawyer accept a bad cheque (in this case from the settlement of the litigation matter) and disburse good money from his or her trust account.

Here is the email:

From: Gilbert Gill
Date: Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 1:32 AM
Subject: legal matter

Sincerely,
Gilbert Gill
16, Carnaby Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S6 2NH
gilbertgill75@yahoo.com
Fax: +44 (0)704 306 1011

A lawyer who responded got this reply and fake termination letter:

Thanks for your mail,attached a copy of the employment contract and termination letter for your review.I had a valid contract with Mr.Mason which state in paragraph 4. TERM AND TERMINATION. Consultant shall serve as a consultant to the Company for a period commencing on June 14th,2011 and terminating on June 14th,2015. In the event of termination, Consultant shall be paid for any portion of the Services that have been performed prior to the termination and the remainder of the contract. I gave my full dedication to the company,I don’t see why I have to wait indefinitely to get my compensation check.The agreement was for $98,000.00 a year. How much do you charge for a case like this?
Please send me your engagement letter or retainer forms for my perusal.
Below is the name of my former employer for conflicts check:

Sincerely,
Gill Gilbert
GG CONSULTANCY
16, Carnaby Road, Sheffield,
South Yorkshire S6 2NH
gilbertgill66@yahoo.com
Fax: +44 (0)704 306 1011

Gill ConceptTerminationLetter

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Three lawyers in Ontario have notified us that they’ve received an email from the purported Gordon Campbell looking to retain them with regards to collecting on business debts. 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.

This is another scam that uses the name of a famous person (as previously done with Michael Moore or Paul McCartney) to attempt to bury any fraud-related Google results among the results related to the real person.

Here is an example of the email:

From: GORDON CAMPBELL [mailto:g.campbell02.ca@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 10:18 PM
Subject: REPRESENTATION

Dear Counsel, I write to humbly request your legal representation in a delayed debt payment. I provided a friend of mine Mr Doug Watson a business loan in the amount of $365,000. Which he needed to complete an on-going project he was handling in 2010. Mr Watson is well based in your jurisdiction and the loan was for 12 months with interest rate of 7.85%. The capital and interest were due to be paid on February 4th, 2011 but Mr Watson has only paid $50,000. Please let me know if this falls within the scope of your practice so I can provide you with the relevant document and any further information you may need to know.Thanks,
Gordon Campbell

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Lawyers in Ontario, Florida and Germany have notified us that they’ve received an email from the purported Richard Frazier 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 loan frauds.

Here is the email and fake ID:

From: Richard Frazier [mailto:pawel.pluta@gazeta.wroc.pl]
Sent: July-10-12 11:32 AM
Subject: Potential Litigation Claim

My name is Dr. Richard Frazier and I provided a client of mine Mr Robert
Garcia a business loan in the amount of $394,000. He needed this loan to
buy some equipment for his business in 2009. He is based in
yourJurisdiction. The loan was for 24 months and interest rate of
8.75%.The capital and interest were supposed to be paid on December 15th
2011 but Mr. Garcia has only paid $91,100. Please let me know if this fall
within the scope of your practice so that I can provide you with the loan
documents and answer any other questions you may have.
Richard Frazier

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An Ontario lawyer received an email from the purported Keith Rennie of RG Wire & Cable Ltd 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 the initial email:

On Mon, Jul 9, 2012 at 11:17 AM, Keith Rennie wrote:

we need a breach of contract lawyer to handel our matter.if this is your area of practice, please contact us to
provide you with further information.
regards
keith rennie

When the lawyer replied he got this response and fake documentation:

From: Keith Rennie
Date: Mon, Jul 9, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Subject: RE REPRESENTATION
To: Lawyer Name

Keith Rennie
Director
RG Wire & Cable Limited
67 Cavendish Way Southfield
Industrial Estate Glenrothes
Fife KY6 2SB,United Kingdom
TEL:+44 70457 09732
Fax:+44 1592 775822
keithrennie23@yahoo.co.uk

Rennie Wesco Contract
Rennie funds transfer
Rennie demand letter

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Two Ontario lawyers received an email from the purported Yeo Mao Cheng 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 the initial email:

From: Yeo Mao Cheng [mailto:yeo@china-equipments.com]
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 2:44 PM
Subject: Atten:

Sincerely, Yeo Mao Cheng.

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Three Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve received an email from the purported Akihiro Hotaka 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 loan frauds.

Here is the email:

Subject: I know you will be able to assist me because i went through your profile.
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2012 09:48:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mr akihiro Hotaka
Reply-To: Mr akihiro Hotaka
To: lawyer email

Thanks,
Mr Akihiro Hotaka

A lawyer who replied got this response and copy of the loan agreement:

Thanks for your reply and sorry for the delay it was due to my failing health ,I tried calling you but it was not connecting.Please i need you to help me enforce an agreement with a family friend.i lent him money and he has paid me part of the money and has been promising to pay me the balance and up till date he has not.please i also want to know how much its going to cost me. (your legal fee). i lent him $470 000 00 and has paid me $168 000 00 the balance is $302 000 00.He resides in Toronto.

please i will be very grateful if you can kindly assist me because i am in need of the money now to settle my bills.most especially my medical bill.

Akihito Loan Agreement

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