by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: October 2015

Primary Name Associated: Lorne Edward

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Lorne Edward of Eikoh/KHC Trading Inc looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase.

This appears to be 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 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 email received by the lawyer:

Name: Lorne Edward
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Phone Number:
Province: Ontario
Postal Code:
How they would like to be Contacted: Email

Their Query?
Dear Counsel,
We need your legal assistance with business transaction/drafting of sales agreement.A referral will be appreciated if you are unable to assist. Please advise to contact me via Email.
Regards,
Lorne Edward

Replying to the email brought this response:

Thank you very much for your response. I’d like a telephone
conversation but for the time difference between us ,it is difficult
to know a convenient time to place a call to your office,but will
check my email often for your letter,as i am in Japan were i work.

Do find attached to this email the Dredger information and the Term
Sheet between us for your review.

We intend to retain your firm, so please prepare and send a formal
Retainer Fee Agreement in your return email for our review and
signature so you can proceed with the Agreement Drafting.

Thank you.

Regards
Lorne Edward
EIKOH/KIC TRADING INC.
YOKOHAMA EAST 21,
Shinmachi 5-12, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama 221-0043, Japan
Tel: +81-3-4578-1499
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.

For more immediate updates on fraud and claims prevention, subscribe to the email or RSS feed updates from LAWPRO’s AvoidAClaim blog.

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.