Debt Collection Fraud
In debt collection fraud scams, a lawyer is contacted to help an overseas business collect on a commercial debt from a purported borrower in the lawyer’s jurisdiction, or facilitate the purchase of a large piece of commercial equipment (often a dredger). The fraudster will provide documentation about the loan, sale of equipment, or whatever else is involved in the debt or transaction. A retainer agreement will be signed, but the fraudster will delay in paying the retainer fee. Instead, the lawyer will be asked to deduct any fees from the debt payment.
The lawyer will be asked to deposit the cheque from the debt collection sale or in the trust account and wire the balance (after fees are deducted) to an overseas account. Of course, the cheque is fraudulent and the lawyer will be left with a shortfall in the trust account.
In this type of scam, the fraudsters will often use the details of a real company, including web address, names of real employees and the mailing address. The contact phone number and email, however, will be fake. We’ve seen the same company names used several times, with only the name of the fraudster changing.
In other variations of the scam, the fraudster may claim to be private lender or a firm looking to outsource debt collection work to third parties lawyers.
Below is a list of names associated with this type of fraud.
, Date First Reported: May 2022
Abrams, Derick Date First Reported: April 2013
Adams, Ryan Date First Reported: October 2013
Adone, Vanessa Date First Reported: March 2012
Akahane, Yasuhiro Date First Reported: September 2012
Akao, Yasushi Date First Reported: September 2012
Aker, Ericksen Date First Reported: March 2013
Akiyama, Shinji Date First Reported: February 2015
Alley, Steven Date First Reported: May 2014
Alverez, Jessica Date First Reported: September 2015
Amaya, Ayaka Date First Reported: August 2014
Andor, Fredrik Date First Reported: February 2013
Arturo, Tamiko Date First Reported: May 2012
Asami, Chou Date First Reported: February 2016
Asuka , Hayabusa Date First Reported: February 2013
Aubrey , Ray Date First Reported: July 2012
Avin, Carl Date First Reported: October 2012
Banfield, Oswald Date First Reported: November 2013
Baptiste , Marco Date First Reported: August 2013
Beil, Dalen Date First Reported: May 2013
Ben, Wilcox Date First Reported: July 2014
Bennison , Rob Date First Reported: April 2014
Benson, Rick Date First Reported: September 2013
Berdon, Alvin Date First Reported: March 2013
Berdzik, Jim Date First Reported: June 2014
Bruce, Alan Date First Reported: June 2016
Burger , George Date First Reported: June 2012
Buthelezi, Jim Date First Reported: June 2014
Buxbaum, David Date First Reported: September 2012
Caires , Nancy Date First Reported: May 2014
Caver, Shawn Date First Reported: October 2013
Chan, Jon Date First Reported: April 2014
Chan, Mark Date First Reported: February 2017
Chen , Peng Date First Reported: September 2012
Cheng, Yeo Mao Date First Reported: July 2012
Cheng, Park Date First Reported: February 2014
Cheng, Aman Date First Reported: February 2017
Chin, Xian Date First Reported: April 2013
Chung, Li Date First Reported: September 2014
Clay , Patrick Date First Reported: January 2012
Clayworth, Jake Date First Reported: September 2014
Daichi, Ayumu Date First Reported: October 2015
Daniels , Val Date First Reported: March 2013
David, Brehin Date First Reported: August 2015
Davidson, Mark Date First Reported: July 2015
Denshi , Taro Date First Reported: March 2013
Desmond , Dave Date First Reported: March 2013
Donnelly, Frank Date First Reported: June 2013
Edwards, Dionne Date First Reported: September 2013
Eider, Gary Date First Reported: July 2013
Erikkson , Olec Date First Reported: March 2013
Esaki , Leo Date First Reported: April 2012
Evans, Morgan Date First Reported: October 2013
Fheng, Khim Date First Reported: May 2018
Fisher, Derrick Date First Reported: February 2015
Flint, Therese Date First Reported: September 2015
Fluker, James Date First Reported: May 2014
Foglar, Andreas Date First Reported: October 2014
Fonji, Simon Date First Reported: November 2014
Fournier, Al Date First Reported: April 2013
Fu, Eric Date First Reported: May 2016
Fujiyama, Takashi Date First Reported: November 2013
Fukuhara, Aoto Date First Reported: June 2014
Fumio, Hirokazu Date First Reported: March 2016
Gale, Leslie Date First Reported: May 2015
Gang , Xu Date First Reported: July 2013
Gao, David Date First Reported: October 2014
Garry, Michael Date First Reported: September 2016
Gejima, Toshimi Date First Reported: October 2014
Georgijs, Andris Date First Reported: September 2016
Gotoh, Morihiro Date First Reported: August 2015
Graham, Steven Date First Reported: February 2012
Graham , Freddie Date First Reported: October 2014
Graham, Farrell Date First Reported: February 2020
Grondelli, Ugo Date First Reported: July 2014
Gustaf , Viktor Date First Reported: October 2013
Hames, Wendy Date First Reported: October 2014
Han, Akai Date First Reported: April 2013
Hanne , Carl Date First Reported: August 2014
Harald, Ludvik Date First Reported: April 2013
Harrison, Paul Date First Reported: November 2013
Hashimoto, Toru Date First Reported: March 2012
Hashimoto, Tomiji Date First Reported: December 2017
Hastings, Nicky Date First Reported: August 2013
Henry, Eric Date First Reported: June 2014
Hensen, Dan Date First Reported: February 2012
Hermida , Jose Date First Reported: May 2015
Herraez , Rachel Date First Reported: September 2013
Higuchi, Tatsuo Date First Reported: September 2014
Hines, Elysia Date First Reported: September 2015
Hirai , Kazuo Date First Reported: May 2013
Hiraishi , Akira Date First Reported: February 2013
Hotaka, Akihiro Date First Reported: July 2012
Howell, Chris Date First Reported: May 2014
Hsu, Pang-Fu Date First Reported: June 2016
Hu , Catherine Date First Reported: June 2013
Huang, Shaoxiang Date First Reported: November 2012
Hughes , Hiroyuki Date First Reported: February 2013
Inabata, Ik Date First Reported: June 2014
Inoue, Makoto Date First Reported: September 2015
Itoh, Ichiro Date First Reported: April 2013
Itou , Saitou Date First Reported: October 2013
Iwai , Mitsuo Date First Reported: November 2013
Izawa, Daiki Date First Reported: June 2013
Jackson, Jessica Date First Reported: February 2012
James, Robert Date First Reported: June 2014
Janke, Jerry Date First Reported: August 2014
Jansen, Pieter Date First Reported: February 2017
Jim, Nagamoto Date First Reported: October 2014
Jin , Kang Sung Date First Reported: February 2013
Joe, Cochran Date First Reported: January 2013
Johansson, Jan Date First Reported: January 2013
Joya, Yoshika Date First Reported: July 2014
Jutters, Hu Date First Reported: December 2016
Kagawa , Shinji Date First Reported: January 2013
Kai , Kenichi Date First Reported: August 2013
Kaihori, Shuzo Date First Reported: June 2013
Kaneko, Keita Date First Reported: April 2015
Katsuro, Susumo Date First Reported: January 2015
Kawano, Akira Date First Reported: June 2013
Kawasaki, Hiroya Date First Reported: September 2015
Kawasaki, Anthony Date First Reported: September 2014
Keller , Adam Date First Reported: October 2013
Kikuna, Kayano Date First Reported: December 2013
Kim, Du Heong Date First Reported: August 2013
Kimora , Kew Lew Date First Reported: August 2012
Kimoto, Hitomi Date First Reported: January 2015
Kimura, Kenji Date First Reported: February 2016
Kimura, Hiroaki Date First Reported: January 2015
Kirk, Linda Date First Reported: January 2013
Kitazawa, Sawada Date First Reported: September 2014
Kiyoshi, Masao Date First Reported: March 2013
Kleynhans, Jim Date First Reported: June 2014
Klinton, Anders Date First Reported: March 2014
Knifong, Erin Date First Reported: January 2018
Knott , Martin Date First Reported: September 2012
Koch, Dolf Date First Reported: September 2014
Kohri, Akio Date First Reported: December 2014
Kondziola, Mark Date First Reported: April 2014
Kubori , Hideaki Date First Reported: November 2013
Kuwabara , Hideo Date First Reported: December 2012
Kwan, Danny Date First Reported: July 2016
Lachlan, Wylie Date First Reported: February 2012
Lai, Frank Date First Reported: May 2015
Lau, Lobo Date First Reported: February 2012
Lawre, Jackson Date First Reported: March 2013
Lawsom , Eric Date First Reported: March 2014
Lawson, John Date First Reported: June 2013
Laxton, Nathan Date First Reported: June 2014
Lee , Aaron Date First Reported: May 2016
Lee , Michael Date First Reported: December 2012
Lees, Trevor Date First Reported: April 2014
Leon , Julia Date First Reported: January 2014
Leong, Matthew Date First Reported: July 2013
Leong , Chan Cheu Date First Reported: September 2012
Leung, Yim Date First Reported: December 2014
Li, Yu Sheng Date First Reported: May 2013
Li, Shing Chang Date First Reported: June 2016
Liang, Liu Date First Reported: February 2012
Lin, Kong Date First Reported: June 2014
Lin , C.Y. Date First Reported: May 2013
Loughran, John Date First Reported: July 2014
Lu, Kong Date First Reported: October 2014
Lui , Iwashima Date First Reported: September 2012
Luk, Yeung Date First Reported: May 2018
Luo, Glenn Date First Reported: October 2014
Luong, Thu Date First Reported: March 2013
Mahmoud, Fady Date First Reported: March 2013
Mai , Kasuko Date First Reported: August 2014
Makoto, Kasuruo Date First Reported: July 2013
Masaaki, James Date First Reported: January 2015
Masamoto, Lee Date First Reported: December 2013
Mason, C. J. B. Date First Reported: March 2013
Mason, Ian Date First Reported: August 2014
Masumoto, Yasuo Date First Reported: February 2014
Mathews , Kane Date First Reported: May 2013
Matosuki, Lee Date First Reported: March 2013
Matsuura, Yasuo Date First Reported: December 2015
McAuley, Emmett Date First Reported: October 2015
McKinley, Blair Date First Reported: February 2012
Mei, Jack Date First Reported: February 2015
Meiga, Takayoshi Date First Reported: September 2015
Meisel, Roland Date First Reported: January 2015
Miele, Ronald Date First Reported: October 2014
Mikaela , Aina Date First Reported: May 2013
Mikami, Masahiro Date First Reported: August 2015
Miller, Berlin Date First Reported: November 2012
Miller, Louis Date First Reported: June 2016
Min, Zhang Date First Reported: December 2015
Mingzhu, Wei Date First Reported: June 2013
Mitchell, Thomas Date First Reported: December 2013
Mizuno, Osamu Date First Reported: February 2014
Molin, Johan Date First Reported: May 2013
Moorcroft, John Date First Reported: July 2014
Moore, Ken Date First Reported: September 2012
Morgan, Edward Date First Reported: March 2014
Moya, Michelle Date First Reported: February 2015
Muller, Catherine Date First Reported: November 2017
Munish , Shajesh Date First Reported: February 2013
Muraki, Yamanaka Date First Reported: August 2012
Murphy, Robert Date First Reported: December 2018
Nagel, Holger Date First Reported: May 2015
Nakahara, Kioshi Date First Reported: January 2015
Nakano, Naoki Date First Reported: January 2015
Nelson, Karen Date First Reported: May 2012
Newham, Andy Date First Reported: March 2014
Niclasson, Ulf Date First Reported: July 2013
Nishimoto , Ray Date First Reported: February 2014
Noda, Yukihiro Date First Reported: January 2018
Norman, David Date First Reported: July 2014
O'Gorman , Tom Date First Reported: August 2012
Offutt, Ryan Date First Reported: July 2014
Okazaki, Fumio Date First Reported: September 2014
Osaki , Kawasan Date First Reported: June 2013
Osamu , Wang Date First Reported: May 2013
Osamu, Masaru Date First Reported: October 2014
Patel , Steven Date First Reported: April 2014
Patel, Bemal Date First Reported: September 2013
Payling , David Date First Reported: March 2014
Peart, John Date First Reported: September 2014
Penwarden, Frank Date First Reported: September 2015
Petterson, James Date First Reported: October 2013
Peyton, Roland Date First Reported: January 2014
Pham, Brandon Date First Reported: November 2014
Pin, Jon Date First Reported: January 2014
Powell , Nick Date First Reported: October 2014
Prior, Andy Date First Reported: January 2014
Qi, Cheung Lee Date First Reported: May 2015
Qiang, Liu Date First Reported: January 2015
Qin , Gorge Date First Reported: August 2013
Qin , Feng Han Date First Reported: October 2012
Qiu, Zheming Date First Reported: December 2013
Raimond, John Date First Reported: January 2014
Rana, Bikash Date First Reported: November 2015
Reed, Timothy Date First Reported: June 2015
Rempe, Ronald Date First Reported: May 2014
Rennie , Keith Date First Reported: July 2012
Riku, Ashford Date First Reported: November 2014
Robbie, Albert Date First Reported: June 2012
Russ, Julian Date First Reported: August 2013
Saita , Yoshihiro Date First Reported: November 2013
Sako, Naohiro Date First Reported: February 2016
Salaspuro, Mikko Date First Reported: December 2014
Salter, Howard Date First Reported: July 2013
Sankar, T Hari Date First Reported: May 2015
Sato, Tamotsu Date First Reported: March 2015
Sato , Akihiko Date First Reported: April 2014
Satoshi , Ken Date First Reported: December 2013
Scott, Brianna Date First Reported: September 2015
Seiders, Gary Date First Reported: April 2013
Sevsson, Olson Date First Reported: January 2013
Shizuka, Kazumi Date First Reported: December 2014
Shui , Chen Date First Reported: August 2012
Shunliang, Hu Date First Reported: October 2014
Smith, Trevor Date First Reported: July 2014
Smith, Aynslee Date First Reported: July 2015
Sokheng, Khim Date First Reported: March 2018
Steven , Chung Date First Reported: July 2014
Stricker, Eric Date First Reported: October 2014
Styrud , Anna Date First Reported: February 2014
Suzuki, Etsuko Date First Reported: December 2014
Suzuki , Ichiro Date First Reported: August 2013
Taisho, Uchida Date First Reported: May 2016
Tan, Tain Date First Reported: January 2015
Tanaka, R. Date First Reported: May 2014
Tang , Zhidan Date First Reported: April 2013
Tanimura, Hitoshi Date First Reported: September 2014
Taylor , Steven Date First Reported: September 2013
Tena , Richard Date First Reported: April 2014
Tin, Kiyoshi Date First Reported: September 2014
Toshio, Yutaka Date First Reported: November 2014
Tran, Sang Date First Reported: March 2016
Traynor, Joan Date First Reported: March 2016
Tremblay, Daniel Date First Reported: January 2013
Trescher , Nick Date First Reported: June 2012
Trygg, Peter Date First Reported: July 2013
Tung, Peter Date First Reported: February 2017
Ualtar, Nick Date First Reported: May 2012
Van Hae, Joe Date First Reported: March 2013
Vargas, Jocelyn Date First Reported: January 2015
Victor, Roberto Date First Reported: July 2012
Victor, Martin Date First Reported: February 2012
Wakefield, Jason Date First Reported: October 2017
Wan, Maverick Date First Reported: April 2015
Wang, Chan Date First Reported: May 2018
Wang , May Date First Reported: June 2012
Wang, Lachlan Date First Reported: August 2014
Wanga, Marvin Date First Reported: March 2015
Warsame, Frank Date First Reported: March 2013
Watson, Alan Date First Reported: January 2014
Watwood, Edward Date First Reported: June 2014
Wei, Emmanuel Date First Reported: May 2013
Weijian, He Date First Reported: November 2013
Welch, Graham Date First Reported: December 2013
Wen-Lien, Yuan Date First Reported: April 2015
West , James Date First Reported: January 2012
White, Mathew Date First Reported: March 2012
Wilfrid, Richard Date First Reported: September 2016
Wilkens, Gerhard Date First Reported: February 2014
William, Steven Date First Reported: October 2013
Wilson, Joshua Date First Reported: October 2015
Winberg, Hakan Date First Reported: August 2013
Wong, K.S. Date First Reported: March 2016
Wong, Alfred Date First Reported: June 2013
Woodley, Billy Date First Reported: March 2014
Woodstock, Greg Date First Reported: August 2015
Wu , Cheng Date First Reported: November 2012
Wu Ryo, Akio Date First Reported: April 2013
Wylie, Ian Date First Reported: May 2015
Xubin , Huang Date First Reported: March 2013
Yaguda, Cho Date First Reported: October 2016
Yamamoto, Takeo Date First Reported: June 2015
Yaman , Bassel Date First Reported: May 2013
Yamato, Leechan Date First Reported: October 2014
Yamato, Kosuke Date First Reported: March 2014
Yang, Li Date First Reported: September 2014
Yasui, Koichi Date First Reported: September 2015
Yeong, Zhu Date First Reported: November 2014
Yip, Chong Hang Date First Reported: February 2017
Yomex, Tony Date First Reported: June 2013
Yoshida, Shigeo Date First Reported: September 2015
Yoshida, Shun Date First Reported: December 2014
Young, Wang Date First Reported: April 2015
Young, Rufus Date First Reported: April 2013
Yuan, Don Date First Reported: February 2016
Yuichi , Takumi Date First Reported: August 2012
Yumiko, Takagi Date First Reported: May 2013
Yuzuki, Abraham Date First Reported: September 2012
Zamora, Frank Date First Reported: October 2012
Zanussi, Lino Date First Reported: May 2013
Zhiming , Niu Date First Reported: April 2013
Zhong, Rong Date First Reported: October 2015
Zhou, Kwang Date First Reported: February 2019
Zhou, Miao Date First Reported: August 2016