by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: June 2014

Primary Name Associated: Charles Kenwright

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Charles Kenwright of Steel Benders UK looking 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 email sent by the fraudster to the lawyer:

From: Charles Kenwright [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: June-20-14 5:31 PM
To:
Subject: Inquiry

Good day…,

I want to inquire if your firm handles breach of contract cases. A referral will be welcomed if this is not your area of practice.

Regards
Charles Kenwright

Replying to the email brought this response:

From: Charles Kenwright [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: June-23-14 1:30 PM
To:
Subject: RE: Inquiry

Thanks for your response, I want to indulge your firm to represent us with regards to a contract case,but before we move further i would like to know if you’re conflicted in representing us against the company below, I will furnish you with the necessary details regarding the case afterward.

North York Iron
1100 Flint Rd Toronto, ON
M3J 2J5 Canada

I await your prompt response.

Charles Kenwright
Steel Benders UK Ltd
Dockside Road Industrial Estate,
Cochranes Wharf, Middlesbrough TS3 6AW
T: +44 793 701 4296
F: +44 809 174 0930
www.steel-benders.co.uk

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. Instructions on how to report a claim are here.

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.