Separation agreement scam by Sharon (or Betty) Trump
Over 160 lawyers in Ontario and the U.S. have notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Sharon (or Betty) Trump with regards to a to a collaborative family law agreement dispute. 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 the initial email:
Subject: Enforcement Action
From:
To: <(none)>
Date: Monday, 03/04/2013 9:21 AM
I wish to file an enforcement petition against my ex-spouse for breaching
the court’s decree with regards to payment of property settlement. If you
are available for such case Kindly reply to me via (sha.trump@att.net).
Regards,
Sharon Trump
A lawyer who replied got this response and counterfeit documentation:
Thanks for your prompt response. Am residing in Japan for an assignment at present and my ex-spouse Herman Trump now lives in Palo Alto, California. As a result of time difference it is a little bit difficult to reach you. We were divorced in Singapore. My ex-husband Herman Trump is a US citizen. We both agreed under a Property Settlement Agreement incorporated, merged into and made part of the Final Judgment for a onetime settlement of Family Support and Property Division in the amount of $1,038,500, he has paid me $186,000.00USD but still owing $852.500.00USD and the stipulated time for completion of payment has long elapsed. This is the reason why I contacted you as there is already an agreement in place. I know for sure my ex-husband has the financial means to pay the unpaid balance set forth in our settlement agreement. Thus, I request your legal services with regards to compelling him to remit balance owed me. Attached is a copy of the property settlement agreement and the Final Judgment. I will be pleased to provide further information on this case on request and I expect this to be resolved in a timely manner.
Furthermore, I seek to retain your firm for this purpose, please send me a copy of your retainer agreement and if the terms are acceptable I will sign so we can commence the process without delay. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and professionalism.
Regards,
Sharon Trump
Address: K-1 Bldg.2F, 1-2-13. Azabu-juban Minato-ku. Tokyo 106-0045 JAPAN
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 fraudinfo@lawpro.ca.
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 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.
He’s in Indianapolis, IN today
I too received an email very similar to the one above. But Mr. Bloomberg now lives in Baton Rouge, LA. Thats for keeping us in the know regarding this scam!
Got the email in Bush, LA, back and frothed a few times and then started searching online and declined the representation.
Regards,
Tim
‘Ms. Crystal” has made her way to Illinois. She is again requesting legal services for an enforcement of property settlement agreement against her ex-husband. She is using a live.com e-mail address. In this email, she does not send the husband’s name or the jurisdiction information. She does, however, provide a telephone number which when called is a Spanish speaking recording. As I do not speak Spanish, I have no idea the contents of the recording. Total scam!
Here is a new e-mail for Ms. Trump/Hokkien: Crystal Hokkien [crystalhokkien1980@hotmail.com]
Dear Counsel,
Thanks for your mail. I agree to pay your retainer fee. Am currently working in Japan for the past 6 months now and my ex- spouse lives in your region. Due to the time difference (+13hrs EST) it is a little bit difficult to determine the best time to call you. We agreed under a property settlement Agreement attached to this mail for a onetime cash settlement of $786,920.00 USD and $271,600.00 USD for property division and Family support respectively. To his credit, he has paid me $200,000.00 USD from a total of $1,058,520 but still owing $800,520.00 USD. Hence, I need your counsel in order to collect the balance owed to me under the settlement agreement.
The Final judgment of dissolution of marriage also attached makes reference to a Settlement Agreement being attached to and incorporated therein. He is aware of my intention to seek legal actions by retaining your firm. Please send me your firm’s retainer agreement letter via email attachment so that we can proceed. Thank you for your help and have a pleasant day.
Regards,
Crystal H
Address: Sumida-ku, Arka Central Building, 89F Tokyo Japan
Name change! Mr. Trump’s name has been changed to Mr. Hokkien and is living in central Pennsylvania. Thank you this website! The information was very helpful.
THANK YOU for this scam alert! I received an identically worded request scheme from an alias of ‘Nina Walton’ from Fukuoka, Japan on May 10, 2013. Attached to the request were PDF files containing copies of an actual Japanese passport with Nina Walton’s picture, and an actual address in Fukuoka, along with either an authentic (or expertly forged) Japanese Decree Of Divorce and Settlement Agreement. I was eager to get started on her case!!! Thank you so much for saving me from this mess!!!