by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: August 2014

Primary Name Associated: Kiyoyuki Suzuki

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

Firms in California and Alberta have notified us that they received an email from the purported Kiyoyuki Suzuki (or Steven Brown) looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase.

This is a 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 purchaser (who is part of the fraud). See our Confirmed Frauds 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:

Name: Mr.Kiyoyuki Suzuki
Type of Telephone: Cell
Telephone Number: 136-757-3800
Address: 3-7-1, Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, 163-1031
Email-Address: [email protected]
Type of Case: Contract
Question/Problem: Dear Counsel,

I want to inquire if your firm handles Purchase transactions and
agreements. A referral will be welcomed if this is not your area of
practice. Kindly advise regarding this issue as soon as possible.

Regards,
Mr.Kiyoyuki Suzuki
Email: [email protected]
Time: July 30, 2014 at 12:17 pm
IP Address: 46.114.42.101
Contact Form URL: http://www.kotkinlaw.com/contact-the-firm/
Sent by an unverified visitor to your site.

Replying to the email brought this reply:

This is a follow up email in regards to my request, I am in the
process of selling my Dredger to a company located in your state of
practice and one of their verbal terms of purchase is, I will have to
provide a purchase agreement that protects them with their state laws
and provide an attorney to monitor this transaction.

Find below the name of the proposed buyer for your conflict check. I
want to know your hourly rate for preparing a purchase Agreement, I
have attached some necessary details of my dredger. I await your
prompt response.

Note: I am in on the way to Brazil for a business seminar for 2 weeks,
I will phone you once I am back is easy for me to communicate via
email during this period.

PROPOSED BUYER:
Dutra Dredging Co.
2350 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael, CA 94901-8312

Sincerely,
Kiyoyuki Suzuki

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.