New variation of the bad cheque fraud: Dog bite cases
[First posted May 2019. Updated January 2020]
Several lawyers have notified us of a new variation on the old bad cheque debt collection scam. This scenario involves a dog bite, and the promise of an insurer to pay a settlement for medical expenses. It even comes with gruesome dog bite photos that were apparently taken from a British newspaper story.
As with all bad cheque scams, it 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 other party (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 Cybercrime and Bad Cheque Scams Fraud Fact Sheet lists the red flags of a bogus legal matter that is really a fraud.
Below is a sample of an email received by the lawyers. Other names associated with the scam include Rick Ferguson, Cesar Justicia, Danny Haupt, Aaron Diaz, Anthony Grinner, Mundo Edgardo, Carlos Raul Jack Gregory, Julio Alfonso, and Santos L. Opelanio
From: Eddie barrington [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: April 26, 2019 8:38 AM
Subject: Dog Bite Case
Dear Counsel ,
I will need your service in a personal injury case(Dog Bite).
Please let me know if you handle such cases, so I can send you more details.
Regards,
Eddie Barrington
Replying to the email brought this colourful response:
Thanks for your response.
This incident happened on October 16th, 2018 while on I was on holiday in Saint John, NB with my beautiful wife Rebecca. , when I was attacked by a neighbor Pit bull dog. Am from Bahamas, 2013 i got a job in Dragados Offshore México, since 2013 i base in Mexico.
I was in our Un-fenced back yard getting wood from the wood pile when the dog approached me. So it was a great surprise when this Vicious dog, without provocation or any warning signs at all, attacked my face, biting me and causing gaping wounds near my left eye and and leg and serious scratches to the skin around my eyes (See attached photo). I was standing right next to the wood pile when it happened, as were the owners of the dog who could not control his dog.
With Hands clutching my eye as blood pours from my face completely soaking my clothes , I was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, where I had immediate treatment to stop the bleeding.
It was agreed then with the owner of the dog for a settlement, they agreed to pay the cost of treatment and the out of court settlement amounting to the sum of $120,500.00.
I went to New York for plastic surgery. Despite first-rate treatment at the Hospital, I will be forever scarred my face don’t look the way it was before.
During my surgery I spent a total of $21,300.00 out of my pocket because the dog owner has failed to pay the settlement of $120,500.00 as promised.
I entered this agreement then without a legal representative as I was assured that all costs will be paid in full.
I need your help to get the dog owner and his insurer to pay Settlement sum.
Please note am already in the field, i can’t call or receive call, Let me know when we can speak, i will make myself available.
May 02, 2019 at 3:14 pm, Ted Bergeron said:
Just received the same letter from Eddie. Apparently he and his beautiful wife Rebecca fell into the path of Cujo in Ottawa.
May 08, 2019 at 8:23 pm, Anonymous said:
Just received a similarly-worded inquiry from “César Justicia”.
June 20, 2019 at 1:33 pm, Anonymous said:
we just recieved the exact same inquiry from Cesar Justicia
June 30, 2019 at 7:48 pm, Craig Hensel said:
Billings, MT P.I. attorney just received identical e-mail from Cesar Justicia June 27, 2019. Google image search of included gruesome attack photos show it was postman Keith Chadwick. I responded and “he” followed up with a long informative e-mail, purported settlement agreement showing a $120,500 settlement, and e-mail exchange showing that homeowner had agreed to pay sum.
July 01, 2019 at 3:15 pm, Anon. said:
Just received another letter from Eddie Barrington . Apparently he has really bad luck because he was attacked again by a dog, this time in Hatfield, MA while he and his beautiful wife were just trying to enjoy holiday
July 10, 2019 at 7:58 am, Anonymous said:
Got the same email from Cesar Justicia. He was mauled in Edina MN while on vacation here from Ecuador. I’ve asked for the police report and his medical records. What a clown!
July 15, 2019 at 3:48 pm, Anonymous said:
We got the same e-mail from César Justicia today. This time he was with his beautiful wife Rebecca in Folsom, CA when he was attacked by a neighbor’s pitbul. Now poor Rebecca is a bigamist.
July 17, 2019 at 9:39 am, K said:
Just received same email at personal injury firm in NH. “Eddie” claimed injury occurred in Northfield, NH.
July 25, 2019 at 3:19 pm, Anonymous said:
Just got the same email from César Justicia. Was about to reply because I do handle dog bite cases, but decided to Google the name first.
August 01, 2019 at 8:09 am, Adam Roth said:
Cesar Justicia emailed about his dog bite in the Bronx, New York. Danny Haupt was the other party; he also e-mailed me that Cesar told him I was his lawyer.
August 08, 2019 at 9:19 am, Anonymous said:
Cesar is at it again…. email to lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland.
August 09, 2019 at 8:30 am, Mathias Manner said:
Just received email from Justicia Cesar at my office in Columbus, Ohio. Thanks for reporting this scam, I may have stupidly fallen for it!
August 16, 2019 at 7:48 pm, Rich Kolber said:
Just received the Eddie Barrington version.
August 20, 2019 at 11:38 am, J. said:
I received this email at law firm in Indianapolis this week. Wanted to know if he could get a copy of a fee agreement to sign and have his non-court ordered $180,000.00 settlement sent to our office. Bog bite had allegedly occurred in Anderson, Indiana. (And, yes, apparently Rebecca is beautiful). Ridiculous.
August 24, 2019 at 1:32 pm, Michael O Stevens said:
Cesar just emailed me today about his attack in Oregon. He must be horribly scarred from all this vicious dog attacks. Though, I’m thinking assumption of the risk at this point might be effective since he clearly knows all dogs are bad.
August 27, 2019 at 4:36 am, Des said:
Seems Cesar has relocated to Hawaii as my firm just got nearly identical email a few days ago. But, my scam radar was immediately activated when he reports he was getting wood from the wood pile. SInce we are in Hawaii with beautiful year round warm weather I knew the story was off.
August 27, 2019 at 6:44 pm, Anon said:
Poor Cesar Justicia. He was just again mauled by a pitbull, this time in Larkspur, CA. He was on vacation with his beautiful wife Rebecca. He’s from Honduras, but works offshore on a Japanese oil rig. His email matches the one above verbatim.
August 28, 2019 at 4:57 pm, Leighton K Lee said:
2019 – 08 – 28: received an email from Cesar Justicia re dog bite. Thank for maintaining this website. From Honolulu, Hawaii.
September 06, 2019 at 12:56 pm, Beverly Saxon Leonard said:
Cesar Justicia was visiting Calistoga, CA, with his beautiful wife, Rebecca, and met the dangerous pitbull there recently.
Thanks for this site.
September 06, 2019 at 12:59 pm, Beverly Saxon Leonard said:
Cesar Justicia was visiting Calistoga, CA, with his beautiful wife, Rebecca, and met a dangerous pitbull there recently.
I practice in Napa, CA. Thanks for this site.
September 17, 2019 at 4:20 pm, Carl said:
Cesar was also attacked in Wade, NC. Wondering what this Ecuadorian/Japanese well driller was doing in such a small town such as Wade, NC.
September 18, 2019 at 11:30 am, mike ob said:
I received the same email from Cesar Justicia and actually exchanged a couple emails, thank you for posting this, second time in two weeks I’ve been contacted by a scam artist with a potential valuable PI case.
September 23, 2019 at 10:05 am, Ashley E. Lorance said:
Just received this email from Cesar Justicia re. dog bite. Thanks for posting.
September 23, 2019 at 8:00 pm, anon said:
9/23/19 – now it is Rick Ferguson residing in Detroit MI, and working for Petrobras. Thanks for the website and easy way to verify it is a scam
September 27, 2019 at 9:49 am, Joe said:
Got the same thing. Fell for it for awhile, just never thought it was scam at first, even talked to him on the phone. Also talked to the insurance company rep, who had a professional looking website.
September 28, 2019 at 4:14 am, Wyle E. Coyote said:
How much tragedy can one man endure?! Cesar looking for counsel in Los Angeles as of Sept. 27 after yet another attack in Malibu some months back.
September 30, 2019 at 7:16 pm, Anon said:
How much tragedy can one man endure?! The same thing happened to him in Malibu earlier this year! I am concerned that his beautiful wife Rebecca will leave him because of his scarred face. Sort of like the plot of Vanilla Sky?! Stay strong, Cesar!! And many thanks to the moderator for maintaining this valuable website so we can all stay posted about his recovery and breaking developments.
October 02, 2019 at 12:02 pm, Patrick Regan said:
This poor guy has terrible luck—he was bitten again in Georgetown in DC. Fortunately, we figured out this was a total scam.
October 09, 2019 at 8:06 pm, matthew brekhus said:
received the Cesar Justicia email on 8/24/19 regarding a dog bite in Kentfield California
October 21, 2019 at 9:55 pm, Jon Frank said:
Looks like he changed his name to Aaron Diaz when he moved to Michigan. And now he’s from Ecuador. But Rebecca stays loyal!! Thanks so much for maintaining this site!
October 22, 2019 at 10:59 am, Dan said:
The basic details are the same. This doggie bite occurred in Kansas. The new name is Rick Ferguson out of Michigan with a Michigan number 248-216-0368. Using email [email protected].
October 25, 2019 at 2:06 pm, brent ferrel said:
Rick Ferguson
7:05 AM (5 hours ago)
to me
—
Good Morning,
I will need your service in a personal injury case(Dog Bite).
Please let me know if you handle such cases, so I can send you more details.
Regards,
Rick Ferguson
Tel:(248)-216-0386
November 04, 2019 at 12:16 pm, anon said:
Aaron Diaz hit again in SW FL. Dog owner said to be Danny Haupt, and yup, Rebecca is ever loyal. Thanks for updating on this scam.
November 06, 2019 at 1:05 pm, AS said:
Aaron Diaz contact in MA. Poor guy
November 08, 2019 at 10:48 am, Dick A Blenden said:
I have received emails from this clown as well. This is what he sent me.
I reside in ( Detroit, MI ) and work in Brazil with “Petrobras Offshore Brazil”. This incident happened on January 16th, 2019 while i was on vacation in your city (Carlsbad, NM ) with my wife, when i was attacked by a neighbor’s Pit bull dog.
I was in our Un-fenced back yard getting wood from the wood pile when the dog approached me. So it was a great surprise when this Vicious dog, without provocation or any warning signs at all, attacked my face, biting me and causing gaping wounds near my left eye and serious scratches to the skin around my eyes ( See Photos Attached With Settlement Agreement ). I was standing right next to the wood pile when it happened,as were the owner of the dog who could not control his dog.
With Hands clutching my eye as blood pours from my face completely soaking my clothes , I was rushed to hospital, where I had immediate treatment to stop the bleeding.
It was agreed then with the owner of the dog for a settlement, he agreed to pay the cost of treatment and for any other damage amounting to $140,500.00, The owner of the Dog “Mr. Anthony Grinner” beg we should settle this without going to court,which i agreed with him because of my short stay on vacation.
During my first-rate treatment i spent a total of $21,300.00 out of my pocket because the dog owner assured me that all costs and agreed settlement will be paid in full.
I need your help to get the dog owner to pay the agreed settlement because he has failed to pay the agreed settlement of $140,500.00 as promised. I entered this agreement then without a legal representative as I was assured that all cost will be paid in full.
Please i like to know your fee agreement on Contingent Fee and send me your (Contract Fee Agreement ) my review and sign so that you can start from there.
Regards,
Mr.Rick Ferguson
Tel:(248)-216-0386
9175 Coyle St Detroit, MI 48228
November 26, 2019 at 8:20 pm, Jim said:
Aaron Diaz emailed me about Danny Haupt dog bite in Waleska GA. Rebecca still beautiful.
November 27, 2019 at 11:16 pm, Dave M said:
After not replying to this guy’s first email, I received a another email. Here are its contents:
I am really looking forward for your service to pursue my settlement from the dog owner “Mr.Anthony Grinner” or the insurance company and i am convince that we are going to collect this funds from them in no distance time.
Our last conversation i let them know that i am planning in retaining your firm to pursue my settlement, they stated they knew about your firm.
You can also contact the insurance company through this email below.
Mr. Mario Heisenberg
Email: [email protected]
TEL +1-(604)-316-2810
Please i like to know your Retainer Fee or Contingency Fee and send me your (Retainer Agreement) for my review and sign so that you can begin with the process.
Best Regards,
Mr. Rick Ferguson
November 27, 2019 at 11:18 pm, Dave M said:
I then received a third email, this one from the alleged “defendant” Anthony Grinner. The contents of that email were as follows:
Dear Lawyer:
My name is “Anthony Grinner”. I am writing you this email in respect of the email i got from your client “Mr.Rick Ferguson”.
I know that there has been some default on my side to keep to the “Settlement Agreement” of ($120,500.00)and remit funds to Mr.Rick as agreed upon.But due
to some issue’s i have with my insurance company “CHUBB” then, that is why i and my insurer is unable to keep to this agreement.
Please I do not want to go to court or face any form of litigation here in “Vancouver” because i will stand a lot to loss.
Therefore, In regard of Mr.Rick, I will get back to you and discuss with you regarding the payment by my insurance company.
Please be considerate and accept my offer.
Warmest Regards,
Mr. Anthony Grinner
November 29, 2019 at 3:36 pm, John Hardie said:
Here in Seattle, WA, I received this same communication from Mundo Edgardo. Dog owner is Danny Haupt. This time, it is his “beautiful wife Brunilda.” What a lazy fraudster.
December 08, 2019 at 12:35 pm, Gail M said:
Here in Philadelphia, PA, Ceaser and his beautiful wife Rebecca were here in PA on August 19, 2019. He’s from Equador, lives in Mexico and works for Dragados Offshore Mexico. It was a general email just about a dog bite, that had several attorneys in the sent line. Only after writing back, did I get the details. I’m sure now, that I will be getting follow-up from the insurance Co. Thanks for posting this site. GM
December 12, 2019 at 12:36 pm, Sarah KN said:
I also received this email – from Rick Ferguson. Defendant Anthony Grinner. Chubb Insurance adjuster Mario Heisenberg. He send a release in the amount of $138,700, which was signed on December 2, 2017. The release appears to be from Chubb insurance, so it’s unclear why he hasn’t been paid the settlement. Googled Mario Heisenberg and found this site – glad LawPro has this set up.
December 12, 2019 at 2:18 pm, Ted G. said:
Here in Sacramento I just received one from these guy:
Dear Counsel,
I will need your service in a personal injury case(Dog Bite)Please let me know if you handle such case, so I can send you more details
Thanks
Regards Ceaser Justicis
December 15, 2019 at 4:58 pm, Fernando B. said:
Received message through AVVO from Carlos Raul. Email is [email protected]. Same scam. I have previously been contacted by Eddie and Cesar as well.
December 17, 2019 at 10:17 pm, brad said:
I just received the same scam via yelp in the Bay Area. This time the persons name is Santos L. Opelanio, and the dog owner is Joseph (joe) H. Onis. Same facts as shown above, but he was out for a walk and the dog attacked him. First read flag, was in the first email when he says was on Holiday in Pittsburg, CA. Clearly he did not know the area, as no one vacations in Pittsburg.
December 18, 2019 at 1:37 pm, Daniel R said:
Here in Washington I just received it from Rick Ferguson from 1 (660) 283-0864 and [email protected].
January 06, 2020 at 12:11 am, Dave Lackford said:
I got the Rick Furgeson flim-flam email here in Louisville, KY. He said he was visiting from LA when a pit ripped his face off at the ole wood pile. He used the fact pattern above as a template.
January 08, 2020 at 8:55 am, Heidi said:
I’m in Florida and received email messages from:
Mr.Rick Ferguson
TEL +1 (660) 283-0864
120 S Vignes St #301 Los Angeles, CA 90012
with an attachment: unpaid Chubb settlement agreement for purported dog bite
Using the following 2 email addresses:
[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
Anything else being done to stop this scammer?
January 08, 2020 at 10:58 am, Sean Simpson said:
Aaron Diaz and Danny Haupt are currently doing this fraud as of Jan 6 2020. Same scheme using Marsh Insurance agency and an official cashiers check for around $140,000. We smelled a rat so waiting to see what the bank does with the check. Tried calling the “insurance“ guy on the accompanying letter and it seems bogus because the telephone number does not answer and the wording in the letter is contrary to any insurance letter I’ve ever seen. Seems like only inexperienced lawyers or experienced lawyers misled by greed would fall for this crap.
January 14, 2020 at 3:29 pm, Todd Richardson said:
Just got the same emails here in Clarkston, Wa, from Rick Ferguson.
Something just “felt” off … little things that made me wonder. I figured I needed to be careful. I happen to be the City Attorney (part-time) so the police were happy to run a records check … no reports. “Rick” sent me a copy of the settlement agreement with “Chubb Insurance”, the wording was just off and I’ve never, EVER seen (or heard of) a settlement agreement with pictures (someone was hurt … somewhere … somehow). Next step was to try to get more info. The Area Code didn’t match up with someone from “Los Angeles”. More stink.
Then I found this site. Thank you for helping me avoid wasting any more time looking into this scam!
January 16, 2020 at 6:33 am, Michael Deans said:
Santos Opelanio seems to have recovered from his experience, as he says that he is now the Executive Director of IBS Precision Engineering BV (which I have checked is a large Dutch Chemical and Engineering conglomerate with subsidiaries in Germany, France and UK). He is now looking for an Attorney to handle an Intellectual Property Purchase and Sales Agreement writing from a personal gmail account rather than from his Company’s e-mail address or on his Company’s letter-head.