Commercial debt collection scam using the names Lawrence Stevenson and Davro Steel Company
Description of Potential Fraud:

Firms in Illinois and Texas have notified us that they received an email from the purported Lawrence Stevenson of Davro Steel Company 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 contact email sent by the fraudster to the lawyer, subsequent response and fake documentation:
From: Lawrence Stevenson [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2014 1:30 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Lawyer Needed
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,
Lawrence Stevenson
Replying to the email brought this response:
Please let this email serve as our response regarding your firm representing our company. Find below our debtors information for a conflict check, before we can schedule for a telephone conference.
L J Fabricators Inc
944 Research Pkwy,
Rockford, IL 61109
We hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Lawrence Stevenson
Executive Board of Director
The Davro Steel Company Limited
Ridgewell Works Stourbridge Road
Wooton, Bridgnorth Shropshire, WV15 6ED United Kingdom
T: +44 793 701 4296
F: +44 809 174 0930
www.davrosteel.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.
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.
March 12, 2014 at 10:43 am, Dana h said:
Our firm was contacted by Lawrence Stevenson of Davro Steel Company last week regarding representation. Thank you for the information on this scam. We are located in Texas.
July 03, 2014 at 3:57 pm, Dev said:
FULL TEXT OF E-MAIL RECEIVED BY US IS AS UNDER.THANKS MILLION FOR ALERT.THANKS
The Davro Steel Company Limited
Attn.
The Davro Steel Company Limited was established in Lye, Stourbridge, in 1949. Constant progression has resulted in the company’s present day situation in a purpose built service centre on an 8 acre greenfield site. This in addition to ongoing investment in machinery and personnel has allowed Davro to assume a commanding position as one of the principal suppliers of precision sheared strip, blanks, slit coil and panel flat sheet to industry.
WHAT WE NEED
We are in search of a reliable offshore representatives who can help us establish a medium of getting our funds from our customers in their region (i.e. USA & Canada) as well as making payments through these offshore representatives to us.
Please note that this doesn’t disturb your regular work time . NO form of investment or start up fee is needed or required from you and this job will take only 2-5 hours of your time per week. Payment would be based on commissions from the payments received on our behalf and (or) a monthly retainer fee paid by us to retain your services.
Compensations will be given and other benefits. If this proposal is acceptable by you let me know so i can send you a send you remuneration information for your services and also a representative form to fill .
Please feel free to ask me any question that you which to ask.
Thank yOU
The Davro Steel Company Limited
Ridgewell Works
Stourbridge Road
Wooton, Bridgnorth
Shropshire, WV15 6ED
T: +44 750 935 1793
F: +44 809 174 0930