Real estate bad cheque scam by Ellis Wayne
Date First Reported: March 2012
Primary Name Associated: Ellis Wayne
Description of Potential Fraud:
Two real estate agents in the U.S. tell us they’ve been contacted by the purported Ellis Wayne with regards to what looks like a real estate bad cheque scam. For details of how this scam works and other names attached to it see our Confirmed Fraud page.
Here is the email along with a fake proof of funds:
From: Ellis Larry
Subject: Re: 143 Sun Chase Court — Aerial Views
To:
Date: Saturday, March 24, 2012, 3:10 PM
ATTENTION
Please send me the contract for me to sign and return immediately this will be my retirement home and it will be a cash buy
1. I will want to close on 28th MAY , 2012
2. I want to put down $50,000.00 Earnest money
3. I want to put contingency on inspection on the contract.
My legal name is Mr. Ellis Larry Wayne of 12451 Redwood Avenue, Hesperia CA 92345 and am a married man with two kids, I will not be in US before the closing date to wire the funds to an attorney so I will advise you to send me an attorney information for a check to be drawn to give enough time for check clearance since I won’t be in USA to wire funds for closing.
Please forward me a purchase contract agreement to sign as soon as possible.
My Canadian rep will Issue payment in US Funds for the earnest money for the property payable to your attorney, the check will be deliver to your attorney.
I strongly advice that I need an attorney in your state to represent my interest in this transaction, so therefore I would like to deposit all payment with the lawyer.
Please I need the following information from you the attorney information for immediately payment
Law Firm Name……………………………………………
Law Firm Address……………………………………………….
Law Firm Telephone………………………………………………
Lawyer’s Name…………………………………………………..
Regards
Mr.Ellis L .Wayne
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.
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Fraud Fact SheetMore 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.
August 21, 2012 at 3:36 am, Dr. Zdeňka Saláková said:
For assistance in signing a document of my inheritance from me lawyer Ellis Larry Wayne requires 2,500 GBP. Is it normal or is it extortion?
August 21, 2012 at 10:03 am, TimLemieux said:
Hi Dr. Salakova,
That sounds like fraud to me. They are using the same name for an inheritance fraud that they used for the real estate fraud described in our blog.
August 22, 2012 at 3:31 am, Dr. Zdeňka Saláková said:
According to the e-mails manager of Natwest Bank DAN TERRY I have my inheritance deposited in Natwest Bank, 33 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LR. He refuses to tell me the exact amount of my heritage and he constantly touted me his lawyer – Mr. Larry Wayne Ellis for assistance in signing a document of my heritage asks me a reward 2,500 GBP. I am afraid that there is no inheritance or Mr. Dan Terry had converted it to himself. Because of my poor knowledge of English I can communicate only in writing. Thanks for your response.
August 22, 2012 at 2:19 pm, TimLemieux said:
There is no inheritance. Its a fraud attempt. They want to you to send money in small amounts, like 2,500 GPB over and over.
August 24, 2012 at 7:48 am, Dr. Zdeňka Saláková said:
Does work at Natwest Bank as manager Dan Terry, or is he a manager Dr. Dan Terry working in OCEANIC BANK PLC Western Union in Benin? His request for air ticket in the amount of 721 GBP and payment for taxi to the airport in the price of 1,500 GBP would be answered it. You can send me an e-mail address of someone from the management of the Natwest Bank, 33 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LR? I sent a registered letter to the bank’s management, but in vain for more than a month I’m waiting for a response.
September 26, 2012 at 8:16 pm, Bill Bello said:
Thanks to everyone who has posted these scams. These scams are alive and well and have evolved into many different variations, involving any kind of legal situation imaginable. These scams have gone global and are now targeting lawyers all over the world. LawPro had done an excellent job of providing info to help recognize these scams. Thanks to all.
Bill
November 09, 2012 at 1:34 pm, Zdeňka Saláková said:
Dear Tim Lemieux,
I am Czech pensioner and I inherited in UK bigger amount of money that I have saved (?) in the current account at the Bank of Manchester. I’d like transferred 0.4% in the Czech Republic and the rest was left Bank of Manchester. However, the bank asks me to 15,500 GBP (= 494,791 CZK). This amount is not even able to pay for my death. Please advice what to do and how I should proceed. I asked about the option to pay this amount from my heritage, but I have no answer.
November 09, 2012 at 3:42 pm, TimLemieux said:
Its a fraud. There is no UK money. Don’t send any money to them.
November 17, 2012 at 11:55 am, Zdeňka Saláková said:
Dear Mr. Tim Lemieux,
I am turning to you for help. This is my heritage for which I am already in the second half of 2009 paid in fees to ABSA Bank in Pretoria over 50,000 GBP. Now, my heritage is reportedly on the current account 946 366 368 at Bank of Manchester. Mr. Tim Howard (Foreign Account Processing Officer & Foreign Remittance Manager) threatens me that if I do not pay to 19.11.2012 for nonresident administrative code 15,500 GBP, he lets cancel my current account, and my heritage. Please advice on whom I could turn with confidence and who could give me in my difficult situation to help.
Best Regards, Dr. Zdenka Saláková
October 04, 2016 at 7:10 pm, Marisol Rivera said:
This joker Ellis Wayne is still going strong. He used my address to try and solicit money from people to rent the house! MY house! He took the photos from the rental listing, and looked for people on Craigslist who are seeking housing in the area. Then he responded dedicated to the listing claiming he was the owner made up a whole backstory, with a number, email address and all kinds of other junk. The person had the wherewithal to look up the address and see the listing on the realtors site and reached out to her which is how I found out. Unbelievable and dispicabke. Needless to say I immediately emailed him and cc my attorney. This guy needs to go to JAIL.