Date First Reported: March 2013

Primary Name Associated: Yu Chan

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

An realtor in Ohio has been contacted by the purported Yu Chan with regards to what looks like a real estate bad cheque scam based out of Ontario. For details of how this scam works see our Confirmed Fraud page.

Here is the email:

From: Yu Chan [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 5:03 PM
To:
Subject: I will like to choose for the this MLS 3327197 $699,000.

Hello,

I will like to choose for the this MLS 3327197 $699,000…and i will be closing March 25th.I want to put contingency on inspection on the contract.Please send me the contract for me to sign and return immediately this will be my retirement home and it will be a cash buy.

My Canadian rep will Issue payment in US Funds for the earnest money for the property payable to your attorney, the check will be deliver to your attorney and please take the cheque and cash it at your bank because i can’t send payment from here.I strongly advice that I need an attorney in your state to represent my interest in this transaction, so therefore I would like to deposit all payment with the lawyer or the tittle company as well and i hope you understand…

My legal name is Mr.Yu Chan of Century Square, Level 1 & 2, Block 2300, Jalan Usahawan,Malaysia and I am Single, I will not be in USA before the closing date to wire the funds to an attorney so I will advise you to send me your attorney information for a check to be drawn to give enough time for check clearance since I won’t be in USA to wire funds for closing.

Please forward me a purchase contract agreement in docusign format, DocuSign format is an electronic way of signing document, forward it to me via docusign format, their website is http://www.docusign.com/ or any other electronic document I don’t have access to a printer or scanner here therefore I can not sign and send it back in PDF format.

I strongly advice that I need an attorney or tittle company in your state to represent my interest in this transaction, so therefore I would like to deposit all payment with the lawyer.

Please I need the following information from you the Tittle Company information for immediately payment.

Till Company Name……………………………………………

Address……………………………………………….

Telephone………………………………………………

Officer Name…………………………………………………..

Email Address:……………………………….
I hope to hear from you soon.

Mr.Yu

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 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.