Separation agreement scam by Bella Kyung
Description of Potential Fraud:
Three Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Bella Kyung with regards to a to a collaborative family law agreement dispute. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For details on how this fraud works and a full list of names attached to it see our Confirmed Fraud page.
Here is the initial email:
From: [email protected]
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Date: 22/10/2012 12:01 AM
Subject: Counsel
Dear Counsel,
I wish to file a contempt petition against my ex-spouse for failure to
make court ordered payments of Child Support, Spousal Support, Equitable
distribution and Medical support. Please advise if you handle such case.
Ms. Bella.
A lawyer who replied got the following response and fake documentation:
I appreciate your prompt response to my inquiry. I live in South Korea while my ex-spouse Sung Kyung lives in Ottawa, Ontario,Canada. As a result of time difference between both countries,its a little bit difficult to reach your law office via telephone though i will give it a try as soon as i am disposed.I will try as much as possible to let you into what transpired between i and my ex-spouse. We were divorced in South Korea but my ex husband Sung Kyung relocated to Canada,he is a citizen in your country.We both agreed under a separation agreement incorporated,merged into and made part of the court decree for a settlement of child support, spousal support,and medical support of $781,750.00, he has paid me $195,000.00 but still owing $586,750.00 and the stipulated time for completion of payment has long elapsed.The reason I have contacted your law office is that there is already an agreement in place and i am bent on getting what is due me and my children.I know certainly that my ex-spouse has the financial means to pay balance he owes me. To this end,I request your legal services to enforce the court order compelling him to remit balance due me and my children.I will be wiling to provide more details including documents on this case upon you request. I expect this to be resolved in a timely manner and as such if you are willing to proceed, kindly send me a copy of your law firm’s letter of engagement/retainer and if the terms are acceptable I will sign so we can commence the process without delay.
What are your charges per hour for an attorney and a paralegal?Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and professionalism.
Thank you
Ms Bella
Kyung Decree Of Divorce
Kyung Agreement
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 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.
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