by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: June 2013

Primary Name Associated: Tony Yomex

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

A New York lawyer has notified us that he received an email from the purported Tony Yomex looking to retain him with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. This is similar to other frauds of this kind we have seen. For a full description of how this fraud works and to see other names attached to it, see our Confirmed Fraud page that deals with business loan frauds.

Here is the initial email:

Subject: Re: Hello
From:
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:49:34 -0400
To: [email protected]

Please provide me with your name and telephone number.

On Jun 24, 2013, at 10:14 PM, “[email protected]” wrote:

Hello Counsel,

I am inquiring about the possibility of your firm representing me in the litigation of a loan matter. Debtor: Alfred Odwod: $388,000.00 Amount paid 180,000, Balance $208,000.00 plus 7.75% annual interest. If you or your firm can be of any assistance, please get back to me at your earliest convenience so I can send you related documents.
Yours Truly

Tony Yomex

Replying to the email brought this response:

Thanks so much for your respond to my email, Mr Alfred Odwod has relocated to New York a year ago. Please look into my agreement and see how best you can help. We agreed under this Agreement for a 48 time cash payment of $288,000.00 . To his credit, he has paid me $80,000.00 but still owing $208,000.00 plus 7.75% annual interest.

I want you to act as my mediator in the collection of this payment from Eric Madison. I require your services to represent me in connection with any matter with the resolution of the payment expressed in the agreement reached. Eric Madison has been avoiding me ,He has refused all entreaties for repaying the loan.I have just advised him of my intention on retaining your firm.

Find attached copies of my agreement for your review. Please send me your retainer procedure and advice so that we may proceed.

Sincerely,
Tony Yomex

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.