Commercial debt collection scam using the names Tomohisa Tsukamoto and Kaga Electronics
Date First Reported: March 2014
Primary Name Associated: Tomohisa Tsukamoto
Description of Potential Fraud:
An Iowa firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Tomohisa Tsukamoto of Kaga Electronics looking to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection.
This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be duped into wiring real funds from their trust accounts after depositing a fake cheque received as payment from the debtor (who is part of the fraud). See our Confirmed Fraud Page for more of an explanation of how these frauds work and to see other names associated with it. Our Fraud Fact Sheet lists the red flags of a bogus legal matter that is really a fraud.
Here is the initial contact email sent by the fraudster to the lawyer:
From: Kaga Electronics Co Ltd [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 12:18 AM
To:
Subject: litigation case
This is a request for your legal consultation services, I would like your advice regarding possible representation on a litigation case concerning breach of contract/collection matters. 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.
Regards,
Tomohisa Tsukamoto
CEO and President
Kaga Electronics Co., Ltd
2-8, Sotokanda 3-chome,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8629 Japan
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. Instructions on how to report a claim are here.
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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.
April 25, 2014 at 11:20 am, C D Harris said:
I got this same email on 4/25.
April 29, 2014 at 4:21 pm, Cathy Elliott Jones said:
I am an attorney in California and received the same email today.
April 30, 2014 at 10:06 am, John Sutherland said:
The ARC Group Canada received this email on April 23rd 2014 – it was signed Kaga Electronics.
May 02, 2014 at 4:22 pm, J. Loza said:
An attorney in our California law firm received the representation request email from Kaga Electronics on May 1. We were able to find LawPro and immediately discovered it was a scam. Glad to have discovered this site.
May 06, 2014 at 9:32 am, C G Ragsdale said:
I am an attorney in Georgia and received the same email today.
May 09, 2014 at 11:53 am, CA Marvinney said:
This exact email arrived today. I ran Kaga Electronics on Google and your site came up. Thanks.
May 11, 2014 at 7:05 pm, Jennifer Kifer said:
I received this email on 5/9/14.
May 21, 2014 at 6:22 pm, Mark C. Walker said:
Today I received a similar inquiry:
“I want to inquire if your firm handles breach of contract cases. A referral will be welcomed if this is not your area of practice.
Regards
Tomohisa Tsukamoto”
The listed email address was [email protected].
Good luck on putting them out of business.
May 29, 2014 at 10:19 am, P Barnes said:
I’m in Kansas and received a very similar email with the noted name and address on 5-28, requested verification on 5-29 and was sent a contract and information that looked legit. In checking it out I found this site. As a result I haven’t gone further.
May 30, 2014 at 12:44 pm, Tricia Wilson said:
I received a similar representation request via e-mail on May 29. Before I did my research and found your post, I inquired about the identity of the adverse party.
“Mr. Tsukamoto” wrote back, stating the adverse party was Ingersoll-Rand, a prominent North Carolina company that manufactures compressors and other heating cooling equipment. Tsukmoto also attached a contract that appeared to be between Kaga Electronics and Ingersoll-Rand, that he identified as the adverse party. The “invoices” were dated July 2012. He produced what appear to be invoices, “shipping documents” and other trade documents that had various “stamps” and seals that appear to have been issued by a government entity in Japan.
Thank you for posting this on your fraud site. I hope you catch the perpetrator.
June 09, 2014 at 2:22 pm, Robert M.ilner said:
I got the same email plus additional information relating to a claim against Semtex Industrial on Long Island, New York. I also received what purported to be a “certified” $450,000 check from Semtex. the envelope containing the same had a Canadian stamp and postal marks but had a return address on Long Island. It asked that we confirm receipt to [email protected]
The documents forwarded to support the claim appeared in perfect English but lacked commercial information, i.e. dating of due dates, real, rather than typed signatures etc.
June 10, 2014 at 10:29 pm, Rob Nelson said:
I received the same initial email, as well as follow-up correspondence about the creditor (Proteus Energy Corp., rather than Semtex or Ingersoll Rand). I too received a check for $450K, also with a Canadian stamp and purportedly drawn from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. And in a shocking coincidence, my check also asked that I confirm receipt to Timothy Howard. Glad I didn’t deposit it, and very glad to have found this web site.
December 07, 2014 at 8:38 pm, Alexander Penley said:
I got the same two days ago.
December 20, 2017 at 5:10 pm, Andy Waltz said:
Found this blog while looking up this suspicious email – its still making the rounds:
On 19 December 2017 at 12:12, Thomas Franklin wrote:
I will like to inquire if your firm handles litigation case concerning breach of contract/collection matters. . I believe that the matter is within your jurisdiction which is why I’m requesting your legal advice, a referral will be welcomed if this is not your area of practice, I look forward to your prompt response
Regards
Mr. Thomas Franklin