by FraudInfo

Date First Reported: October 2015

Primary Name Associated: Collin Reals

Description of Potential Fraud:

fraud-warning

A Texas firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Collin Reals of Humber Work Boats looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase.

This appears to be 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 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 email received by the lawyer:

From: Humber Work Boats Ltd [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2015 2:05 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Request for legal services.

Dear Counsel,

Request for legal services.

We are a UK based Marine Construction firm and we need an attorney to assist us in drafting a purchase and Sales agreement with a buyer in your area. Are you able to take up this matter? If not, a referral will be appreciated.

Regards,

Collin Reals
Director, Sales & Purchase.
Humber Work Boats Ltd
North Killingholme Haven,
Grimsby, North East,
Lincolnshire DN40 3LX 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 SheetMore 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.