by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: September 2015

Primary Name Associated: Massimo Marchetti

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

Three Ontario firms and one in New Jersey notified us that they received an email from the purported Massimo Marchetti 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 sent to the lawyer :

From: Massimo Marchetti [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 5:50 AM
Subject: SALE AGREEMENTS

My Dear Friend.

Please, I would need your skilled legal counsel to help me handle a full spectrum of purchase and sale agreements transaction, a complete package from contract preparation through closing. If this is not your legal field a referral would be fine.

Yours Sincerely,
Massimo Marchetti

Replying to the email brought this response:

A buyer who resides in the United State of America have requested to buy one of our Marchetti MTK 1006 Truck mounted crane product, I would need your legal expertise to guide me through this process, by helping me draft a complete package of your Purchase and sale agreements for this transaction,the proposed buyer name and location is: “Ring Power Corporation-10 Lafayette Place, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States.” for your record and conflict check.

The scope of your engagement would be to draft and execute a standard Purchase & Sale agreement that would protect all parties involved. I would like a few terms to be included in the standard contract that you would prepare, as this has been verbally discussed with the buyer and mutually agreed upon. The buyer will be represented by their broker. Existing terms are that buyer will make initial deposit that would cover attorney retainer as soon as the retainer is executed. The initial deposit will not be less than 23% of total amount. It must be received within 5 business days of signing contract to show commitment.another 17% will be paid on Confirmation of shipment before delivery destination and the Full Balance is expected after the arrival of equipment to destination area. Primary inspection has been carried out and was satisfactory, Secondary inspection is pending. Buyers’ broker will also provide an LOI with details of the transaction at the time of initial deposit.

The total expenditure is one million Nine hundred seventy thousand and eight hundred dollars (1,970,800.00 USD), please advice your estimated standard fees for contract preparations and kindly have it forwarded to my attention for my reviewer and signing.Attached are some required technical details of the truck for your review,kindly Schedule a time between 10am-12 noon next week to discuss details if necessary.

Yours Sincerely,
Massimo Marchetti
Consigliere Delegato
MARCHETTI AUTOGRU spa
indirizzo aziendale: 49, str. Caorsana, Piacenza 29100

Numero Di Telefono: +39 3512 29 6361
Numero Di Telefono Diretto: +39 0523-158-0015
numero Di fax: +39 085 206 1403
E-mail: [email protected]
Hjemmeside: https://www.marchettigroup.eu

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.

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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.