by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: October 2014

Primary Name Associated: Clinton Akimitsu

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

A New York firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Clinton Akimitsu looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase.

This is a 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 purchaser (who is part of the fraud). See our Confirmed Frauds 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: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2014 3:26 PM
To:
Subject: Other

I want to inquire if your firm handles Purchase transactions and agreements. A referral will be welcome if this is not your area of practice.
Regards,
Clinton K. Akimitsu

Replying to the email brought this response:

This is a follow up email in regards to my request, I am in the process of selling my Dredger Please Find below the name of the proposed buyer for your conflict check. I want to know your hourly rate for preparing a purchase agreement, I have attached some necessary details of my Dredger for your review please advise me on your rate, initial retainer fee and forward me your retainer agreement.

POTENTIAL BUYER:

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp
2705 Richmond TerStaten Island, NY 10303

Sincerely,
Clinton K. Akimitsu
EIKOH TRADING INC.
YOKOHAMA EAST 21, Shinmachi 5-12, Kanagawa-ku,
Yokohama 221-0043, Japan
TEL: +81 45-453-5671 FAX: +81 45-453-1488
[email protected]
http://www.etinc.co.jp/en/

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.

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.