by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: November 2014

Primary Name Associated: Annuska Eito-Eiichi

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

We were bcc’d on an email from the purported Annuska Eito-Eiichi looking to retain a lawyer with regard to collecting overdue payments resulting from a separation agreement.

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 email sent by the fraudster:

My name is Annuska Eito-Eiichi, I am contacting your law firm in regards to a divorce resolution with my ex husband (Mr. Eito-Eiichi) who now dwells in your place. I am from Nagoya, Japan where I live and had our two children with me (Akiko and Atsuko Eito Eiichi).

We had a settlement agreement for him to pay me with any associated legal fees. Since the divorce paper was read at the court here in Japan. Twenty months ago, Mr. Eito-Eiichi my ex husband had only paid me once and moved to Jurisdiction.
 
I am hereby seeking your firm to represent me in collecting the balance from him. The last message he sent me, He agreed that he would pay me the balance but not keeping up with his promise and it is my belief that a Law firm like yours is needed to help me collect this payment from my ex-husband or litigate this matter if he fails to pay as promised.

I look forward to hearing from you and any legal advice to proceed with this matter.
Thanking you in advance!
Yours Faithfully,
 
Annuska Eito Eiichi.

1-305 Itakadai, Meito-ku,
Nagoya-shi, Japan 465
Phone: 81-8039226629
Fax: 0866565432

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.