Collection scam by Frank Zamora
Date First Reported: October 2012
Primary Name Associated: Frank Zamora
Description of Potential Fraud:
Nearly 90 lawyers in Canada and the US have notified us that they have received an email from the purported Frank Zamora with regards to a breach of payment collection 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: “Frank Zamora”
To:
Date: 12/10/2012 09:22 PM
Subject: New message
Counsel,
I am inquiring about the possibility of your firm representing me in breach of payment agreement litigation of 340,000.00.If this falls within the scope of yourpractice get back to me so that I can send the copies of our agreements andmore information.
Regards
Frank Zamora
Tel:1-289-981-9552
Email: [email protected]
How to handle a real or suspected fraud
If you have been targeted by any of these frauds, please forward any of the emails and supporting documents that you have received to [email protected].
If you suspect you are acting on a matter that might be a fraud, call LAWPRO at 1-800-410-1013 (416-598-5899). We will talk you through the common fraud scenarios we are seeing and help you spot red flags that may indicate you are being duped. This will help you ask appropriate questions of your client to determine if the matter is legitimate or not. If the matter you are acting on turns out to be a fraud and there is a potential claim, we will work with you to prevent the fraud and minimize potential claims costs.
If you have been successfully duped, please immediately notify LAWPRO as there may be a claim against you.
For more immediate updates on fraud and claims prevention, subscribe to the email or RSS feed updates from LAWPRO’s AvoidAClaim blog.
Fraud Fact Sheet More fraud prevention information and resources are available on the practicePRO Fraud page, including the Fraud Fact Sheet, a handy reference for lawyers and law firm staff that describes the common frauds and the red flags that can help identify them.
October 16, 2012 at 4:05 pm, Lionel Evans said:
Recieved today the Frank Zimora’s letter. We smelled a rat because the letter was not too professional. We are very vigilant but even the best of us can get caught off guard. This is why we that are legitimate and ethical must continue to pool our resources through networking.
You are doing an excellent job.
October 30, 2012 at 11:05 am, Manuel Santos Vitor said:
“Frank Zamora’s scam” has now reached Portugal. I received the usual mail today and we also smelled a rat. A quick google search led me to this site. Many thanks for your work.
Kind regards
October 30, 2012 at 2:35 pm, Susan Easterbrook said:
He’s still at it. Received an “initial inquiry” email today. Is the second one in a month. He must be blanketing the province with his inquiries.
October 31, 2012 at 11:22 am, Kenneth Peel said:
A “new inquiry” email from “Zamora” arrived today (Oct.31/12) suggesting a new email address for reply :
“Counsel,
I am inquiring about the possibility of your firm representing me in breach of payment agreement litigation of 340,000.00.If this falls within the scope of yourpractice get back to me so that I can send the copies of our agreements andmore information. please reply to this very email here [email protected] there was an error on the my previous email I have for you
Regards
Frank Zamora
Tel:1-855-377-6824”
October 31, 2012 at 1:08 pm, Pascale Seidl said:
This also received today (Oct 31, 2012) with a different email address to respond to:
Counsel,
I am inquiring about the possibility of your firm representing me in breach of payment agreement litigation of 340,000.00.If this falls within the scope of yourpractice get back to me so that I can send the copies of our agreements andmore information. please reply to this very email here [email protected] there was an error on the my previous email I have for you
Regards
Frank Zamora
Tel:1-289-981-9552
October 31, 2012 at 2:04 pm, Deborah Barron said:
I received my second email from Zamora today. I receive at least one or more scam request for a collection, family law, heir or investment matter emails daily at my firm. They are getting more sophisticated over time in the scam emails being sent.
October 31, 2012 at 4:48 pm, KJ said:
I’ve been getting an email with that name attached to it for 3 weeks. Anyone stupid enough to bite that fish hook deserves to be disbarred.
October 31, 2012 at 4:57 pm, Andrés Marin said:
“Frank Zamora scam” is now available in Colombia. As all comments above, a diligent law firm can recognize that scam; nevertheless I think that small firms can be cheated with this supposed “big deal”
October 31, 2012 at 5:48 pm, Michael E said:
Our company has received two e-mails from “Frank” this month (Oct 2012). We recieved the same message as seen at the top of this page from the following addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Thanks for the good work you all are doing!
November 01, 2012 at 3:32 am, Thomas Ramseier said:
Frank Zamora’s scam meanwhile reached Switzerland. I quickly googled his name with his phone number and found this page. Many thanks for your warnings and best regards, Thomas.
November 01, 2012 at 3:24 pm, Elizabeth said:
Frank Zamora emails reached our firm in Miami, FL today. Not 1, but 2 emails containing the same letter below but from different email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].
The purported Mr. Zamora must have thought if the 1st one didn’t trick her, then surely the 2nd one will. Ha! Elizabeth
Counsel,
I am inquiring about the possibility of your firm representing me in breach of payment agreement litigation of 340,000.00.If this falls within the scope of yourpractice get back to me so that I can send the copies of our agreements andmore information. please reply to this very email here [email protected] there was an error on the my previous email I have for you
Regards
Frank Zamora
Tel:1-289-981-9552
March 18, 2013 at 2:50 pm, Dr. Carlos Arias said:
I am an attorney from Ecuador. I have been contacted by Masao an I have been exchanging Emails with the man who ows him money and with that man’s accountant. I started to think something was wrong when they accountat said he will send a check but not wire money. I have not received a check or sign any document yet so I am happy to find LawPro before I become a real victim. Does any body think there is a risk involved by answering the fraud man’s emails?