Commercial debt collection using the names Hideaki Kubori and Yupiteru Industries
Date First Reported: November 2013
Primary Name Associated: Hideaki Kubori
Description of Potential Fraud:
Twenty California firms have notified us that they received an email from the purported Hideaki Kubori, representing Yupiteru Industries, to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection.
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 contact email sent by the fraudster to the lawyer and subsequent response:
From: [email protected]
To:
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 11:52:34 -0500
Subject: Legal Rep
I am Mr. Hideaki Kubori the president and Co founder of Hibiya Park Law Offices firm here in Japan. We would like to know if you have any conflict that will prevent you from representing our client Yupiteru Industries Co., Ltd against an entity in your jurisdiction.
This matter regards shipment and product’s standard. We have explore all avenues to resolve this issue amicably, unfortunately we have not progressed as expected.
If you require the name of the opposing party to conduct your conflict check, please respond to our inquiry and we are ready to pay your retainer fee immediately
Mr. Hideaki Kubori
Hibiya Park Law Offices
Hibiya Marine Bldg., 5th Floor
5-1 Yurakucho 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006
Japan
TEL : 81-3-5532-8888
Email; [email protected]
www.hibiyapark.net
Replying to the email brought this response:
Thank you for your prompt respond, below is the default customer information, please run a conflict check and advise us on your retainer fee also send us your retainer agreement. The outstanding debt is $800,000.00USD.
Adverse Party
Adtec Technology, Inc
48501 Warm Springs Blvd,
Fremont, CA 94539,
United States
We know to litigate in the US is very expensive so we would prefer you send a demand letter first and we will be responsible for your travelling expenses if a demand letter from your firm is not honor.
Once again thanks for your effort and I await your engagement letter as soon as you are clear with the conflict check.
Regards,
Mr. Hideaki Kubori
Hibiya Park Law Offices
Marine Bldg., 5th Floor
5-1 Yurakucho 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006
Japan
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.
November 03, 2014 at 2:47 pm, Liam Kelly said:
Fraudster:
Mr. Koichi Yamazaki
Yupiteru Corporation.
12-33, Shibaura 4-chome,
Minato-ku, Tokyo
ZIP 108-0023 Japan
Tel;8152691707
Initial e-mail:
Thanks for your timely response, Our customer the target company is
[Local Company]
below is the services we need.
1. Creating the newly formed subsidiary
2. Registering the new subsidiary
3. Transferring assets, land, trademarks, patents, etc. in the name of the new subsidiary
4. Drafting non-competition agreements
5. Purchase agreement
We will personally arrange for the tax issue and if you can not provide us all the services listed above then kindly let me know the ones you can handle for us.
We like to know if you have conflict that will prevent you from representing our firm,
Please see attached Letter of Intent for your review.
Please forward us your engagement letter as soon as possible.
Thanks for your previous understanding.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Koichi Yamazaki
later e-mail:
We are delighted to inform you that we received a message from our target company, they have issued a payment of $350,000.00 to your firm as a part of the money owed our company to avoid litigation brought against them and to pay the balance $300,000.00 by November 18th, 2014, according to the letter of intent the target company are to pay off their debt before we enter into contract.
The customer has made the payment to your firm and you will have your retainer fee deducted from this sum and this will give us a good note to start off as agreed by my board of directors.
Please we should pause any action while we await the balance by November 18th, 2014 so kindly keep me posted as soon as you receive and deposit the first payment.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. Koichi Yamazaki