Commercial debt collection scam using the names Ronald Rempe and Shores Manufacturing
Description of Potential Fraud:

A Texas firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Ronald Rempe of Shores Manufacturinglooking 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:
On Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 9:07 AM, Shores Manufacturing CO [email protected] wrote:
Dear Counsel,
We request for your legal services and possible representation on a
litigation matter involving Shores Manufacturing CO. and a client in
your jurisdiction. Please, do let me know if your office is currently
accepting new clients. I look forward to a prompt response from you.
Sincerely,
Ronald Rempe
President.
Shores Manufacturing CO
30256 Gloede Drive
Warren, MI 48088
Replying to the email brought this response:
I am in receipt of your email. We are currently under severe pressure from our Supplier to pay up the balance funds that we owe to them. This debt that we Owe to our Supplier came as a result of an outstanding payment for goods that we supplied to KOCH MACHINE TOOL CO. INC. 8500 Westland West Blvd Houston, TX 77041, valued at 198,750.00.(One Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars). The said outstanding payment was for goods delivered in good condition. Due date for the payment was the 31st of March, 2014 as stipulated in our supplier’s invoice.
Please, do carry out a conflict check on my debtor and also let me know about your fee structure and rates.
We will like to draw your attention to the relationship with our customer which has been cordial and we have had successful business relationship over the past few years, and it is in our position to maintain this relationship after collection of the outstanding sum owed to us.
Do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
I look forward to a timely response from you.
Sincerely,
Ronald Rempe
President
SHORES MANUFACTURING CO.
30256 Gloede Drive
Warren, MI 48088.
Direct Tel: (586) 270-0008
Fax: (586) 943-6044
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.
May 06, 2014 at 5:32 pm, John Moroun said:
Google search of the address for the supposed business gave me a residential street address on Google maps.
May 09, 2014 at 2:01 pm, Robert Brumfield said:
I received the same emails. I am located in Bakersfield, California.
July 07, 2014 at 11:02 am, D.A. Colfax, Esq. said:
#1Counsel,
On behalf of my firm, I wish to request for your legal services and possible representation. Please do let me know if your office is currently accepting new clients.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Kranker
President.
DETROIT MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INC.
#2Mr. Kranker,
In answer to your question, our firm is accepting clients at this time. Please call me at the number below so we may further discuss your company’s legal needs at this time. I look forward to speaking with you in the near future.
S/F
DAColfax
#3Dear Daniel Colfax,
Thank you for the prompt response. I need your legal representation in a debt collection matter involving Verden Tool & Manufacturing Co.121 E Blackwell Street
Dover, NJ 07801. They owe my firm for goods delivered in condition. The value of the goods delivered is $198,750.00.(One Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars). Due date for the payment was the 30th of May, 2014 as stipulated in the invoice.
Please, carry out a conflict check on my debtor and also let me know about your fee structure and rates.
We will like to draw your attention to the relationship with our customer which has been cordial and we have had successful business relationship over the past few years, and it is in our position to maintain this relationship after collection of the outstanding sum owed to us.
Do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
I look forward to a timely response from you.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Kranker
President
DETROIT MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INC.
21307 Schoenherr Road
Warren, MI 48089.
Direct Tel:(586) 648-1033
Fax: (586) 943-6044
August 06, 2014 at 11:58 am, PABIDE said:
Scammer:
Keith Johnson
President
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & ENGINEERING INC.
24534 Groesbeck Highway
Warren, MI 48089.
Direct Tel:(586) 648-1033
Fax: (586) 943-6044
September 23, 2014 at 6:50 pm, Stuart Ford said:
Got the following email today, unsolicited. I am guessing they are trolling the Idaho State Bar for email addresses.
“Hello Counsel, On behalf of my firm, I wish to request for your legal services and possible representation in dealing with our customer in your locality. I look forward to a prompt response from you. Sincerely, Loretta Johnson President Industrial Machinery & Engineering Inc 24534 Groesbeck Highway Warren, MI 48089.”
I looked on google maps and the building at the address is a substantial industrial building with several tenants
I looked on MI sec of state business search and the corporation lapsed in 2011.
The email address from which it was sent was a gmail address, user name: “company.update1001”
I wish someone at Michigan Consumer Protection would go after these people.