May I share with you below a recent item from The Legal Forum, composed mainly of Filipino lawyers, which narrates the new modus operandi of internet-based syndicates in defrauding lawyers worldwide.
Visit: http://www.thelegalforum.org/lawyers/lawyers/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15.
Post subject: Fraud Targeting Lawyers
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 6:48 pm
Last July 29, 2008, I received an e-mail from a company in Hongkong which reads:
"Dear Sir,
The purpose of this email is to evidence that we have visited your web page and
found your profile very interesting. We would like to enter into a one year Attorney-Client Retainer agreement with you as our accredited Attorney for the collection of debt mainly from our America debtors.
IN GENERAL, you shall have all of the responsibilities, duties, powers and authorities which are consistent with your position as our accredited Attorney solely for debt collection.
It is our opinion that your ability to consolidate payments will eradicate delays due to inter-continental monetary transaction between Asia and America.
More so, we understand that a proper retainer agreement will provide the necessary service and we are most inclined to commence talks with you on this matter as soon as possible.
Your consideration of our request is highly anticipated as we look forward to your prompt response.
For further information, please call +852 - 301 - 59103 during office hours or send a fax anytime to: +852 -301 -72504 or email: yejiantech@aim.com
Most Sincerely,
Ms. Ai Wa
Sales Manager,
Hongkong Yejian Technology Co., Ltd.
7/F, Sino Centre, 582-592 Nathan Road,
Mongkok KL. Hong Kong.
Tel No: +852 - 301 - 59103.
Fax No: +852 -301 -72504."
(end of quote)
I immediately e-mailed my contacts at the international due diligence community and I was told that this is a scam. I visited the website Yejian Technology Co. Ltd and it appears that the company is legit. Nonetheless, I told them that I agreed to their offer in principle and it would be appreciated if they send us a Retainer Agreement appointing our Firm as their collection agent in the Asean region. They sent me a signed Retainer Agreement in a flash (Please see attachments) but I e-mailed it back to them because I wanted it authenticated at the Philippine Embassy in Hongkong to establish their legitimacy. Never heard of them since then.
Here is the catch to this scam:
The Hongkong Company will engage your services to collect a debt for US$20,000.000 from another bogus company, say in Malaysia ,Indonesia or Thailand. The bogus company will immediately send you a settlement check for the claimed amount upon receipt of your demand letter . The Hongkong company will instruct you to deposit the settlement check into your account. While waiting for the international check clearing (30 days), the Hongkong company will instruct you to wire to them at least 25% to 50% of the debt payments using your own money citing financial difficulties as reasons. They will also tell you that your fee will now be increased from 5% to 50% of the claimed amount if you can wire to them part of debt payments in due time. You thought that you hit bigtime in this transaction. But the settlement check is counterfeit, and you loses the money you wired abroad.
Is it not true that a big law firm in the Philippines was a victim of this scam?
Note: The item was written and posted by the web administrator of The Legal Forum.
. Visit it.
