Employee Injury / Dismissal Fraud

In employee injury / dismissal fraud, the lawyer is retained to help collect on an employee injury or unfair dismissal settlement. The fraudster will claim that they are overseas, but the employer is in their jurisdiction. In the case of workplace injury scams, a copy of the settlement agreement and identification will be provided. In the unfair dismissal scams, the fraudster will provide a story about how they were mistreated in the workplace and asks the lawyer to help them demand a settlement.

A retainer agreement will be completed (usually electronically signed).The fraudster will offer excuses as to why they can’t pay the retainer fee upfront. They will ask that the lawyer deduct it from the settlement payment.

The “employer” will then send a cheque to the lawyer’s office for the amount of the settlement immediately after a demand letter is sent, or in some cases before the lawyer has even done anything. The lawyer will be asked to deposit it in the trust account, deduct any fees, and wire the rest to an overseas account. Of course, the cheque is fraudulent and the lawyer would then be left with a shortfall in the trust account.

Below is a list of names associated with this type of fraud.

Charles, Stuart Date First Reported: January 2013

Ford, Julian Date First Reported: June 2013

Gill, Gilbert Date First Reported: July 2012

Harvey, Eva Date First Reported: April 2013

Jacqueline, Chevardiere Date First Reported: February 2014

Riches, Stephen Date First Reported: November 2013

Saito, Tatsuo Date First Reported: March 2013

Shirley, Edwards Date First Reported: February 2014

Yamomoto, Jeremiah Date First Reported: January 2013

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