Commercial debt collection scam using the names David Norman and Moog Components Group Ltd
Description of Potential Fraud:
A Washington State firm notified us that they received an email from the purported David Norman of Moog Components Group Ltd 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: David.J.Norman [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 1:55 PM
Subject: Your Counsel
Dear Counsel,
Our firm needs your assistance for a debt collection in your county.
Please get back to me on my private email :
[email protected]
for details to enable you do your conflict check.
Thanks.
David .J. Norman
Managing Director
Moog Components Group Ltd
30 Sutton Ind Est, Reading RG6 1AW,
United Kingdom
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.
July 07, 2014 at 7:43 am, John Carter said:
I was not aware about these scams and it looks quite genuine. I am glad you shared this information along with other details.
June 26, 2015 at 2:11 am, Joseph Tong said:
I just got scammed!!! I nearly scheduled wire transfer to a lady called Mary Elaine Rowell after receiving a bad check from a suposedly a debtor called James Scott in Toronto, Canada.
Mr Scott mailed me a fake check a few days ago, and I deposited into my bank ( Chase Bank) the next day. Initially the fund was available two days later, but when I was just about to schedule the wire transfer to Mary, my bank balance was overdrawn for $16,6695.27 due to insufficient fund .The fund was subsequently placed on hold until July 4 after the bank attempted several times to clear the check.
June 26, 2015 at 11:41 am, TimLemieux said:
If you didn’t wire or withdraw the funds, then hopefully you can resolve the problem with your bank. Good luck!