Delinquent Money Collection Scam

I am a lawyer and I just got this email in my personal email, which I never use for business:

Did you not received me email regarding a legal issue btw my ex and I which I
humbly needs your counsel?, please get back to me

Wondering how they got my personal email address or knew it belonged to a lawyer?

Welcome to scamWarners. Many times scammers are just sending out thousands of emails a day. Some times they harvest email addresses from various locations. You can put your email address into a search engine, like Google and see if you can find other places your email address turns up.

We are pleaqsed you found us and were not scammed by this criminal.

Welcome Richanne. The scammers often purchase lawyer email lists from sites like lawyer-411.com. There are others and where these addresses come from is anyones guess. I know there are a few call centers in India that are notorious for selling info on the side but that's just another guess on where they got yours.

They will also use tools to search legal websites for email addresses. I had a lawyer that posted my email address on a legal blog and the next day lawyer scam letters started showing up in my box. Not a bad thing.

Bubbles is right, search Google for your address and see what shows up.

Two more that were forwarded to me today, the first is from 194.25.134.82 which is Germany:

From: Paul Guma [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Subject: Assist Me Lawyer

Hi,

My firm is seeking legal representation in the issue of a default sales agreement in the amount of $556,890.00.

Please advice if this is your area of practice so I can forward you a copy of the sales agreement and related sales invoice.

Best Regards,

Paul Guma
Advance Tech Network
Email: [email protected]


Client Name-Graham Edward
Customer Number-86ATNWG7601
Amount - $556,890.00

This one is 41.138.188.205 which is Nigeria

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Jackson [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011
> To: xxx
> Subject: Dear Attorney
>
> My name is Peter Jackson and I provided a client of mine Mr. Robert
> Martinez a business loan in the amount of $394,000, He needed this loan to
> buy some equipment for his business in 2008. He is based in your
Jurisdiction.
> The loan was for 24 months and interest rate of 8.75%.
> The capital and interest were supposed to be paid on September 15th 2010
> but Mr. Martinez has only paid $91,100. Please let me know if this fall
within
> the scope of your practice so that I can provide you with the loan
documents
> and answer any other questions you may have.
>
> Peter Jackson.

Another divorce forwarded today, 41.138.180.113 which is Nigeria:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandra Natsuko. [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011
> To: xxx
> Subject: I SEEK LEGAL ACTION
>
> Dear Counsel
>
> My name is Sandra Natsuko. I am contacting your firm in regards to a
divorce
> settlement with my ex husband Mukhai Natsuko who resides in your
> jurisdiction I am currently on assignment in South Korea. We had an out of
> court agreement (Collaborative Law Agreement) for him to pay
> $950,500.00 plus legal fees. He has only paid me $251,500.00 since.
>
> I am hereby seeking your firm`s assistance in collecting the balance from
him
> or litigate this matter if he fails to pay as promised because He has
delayed
> for too long. If you are in the position to represent me at the moment
kindly
> advice immediately.
> Reply to [email protected]
>
> Your's Truly,
> Sandra Natsuko.

One down

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/i ... firms.html

http://forctlawyers.com/wp-content/uplo ... tment2.pdf

Ekhator, who is said to be a member of a syndicate that specialises in internet fraud, is accused of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, involvement in mail and wire frauds and money laundering. Most of the offences are said to attract a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.

He was said to have evaded arrest in the US last year and escaped to Nigeria. The US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was said to have placed him on its watch list.

He was found in Benin, Edo State, where he was arrested earlier this year by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC, in a supporting affidavit to the extradition application, said Ekhator, who holds a Masters degree from the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, resided in Canada with his wife, Nkechi.

The commission described Ekhator as the arrowhead of a ring of fraudsters operating between Canada, US and the Asian Peninsular, that had defrauded some law firms of $29 milliom.

Ekhator and his gang were alleged to have, between August 2008 and August 2010 fleeced about 70 US law of over $29 million.

He was found in Benin, Edo State, where he was arrested earlier this year by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Well done, EFCC!

Ekhator is now in US custody. I wonder if his lawyer will take a check.....

By Associated Press, Published: August 12

LAGOS, Nigeria — A Nigerian man who fled to his homeland after being accused of defrauding dozens of lawyers and law firms of more than $31 million dollars has been extradited to the U.S., Nigeria’s anti-graft agency said Friday.

Emmanuel Ekhator was arrested in Nigeria’s Benin City by the country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in August. He was handed over to U.S. marshals in New York on Thursday, said Femi Babafemi, the anti-graft body’s spokesman.

“With the latest extradition, ... the message should be clear to anyone who travels abroad to commit crime and run back home to hide that Nigeria is no longer safe for them,” Farida Waziri, the anti-graft body’s chief, said in a statement. “We will get them and hand them over to face the law.”

Court records show Ekhator has yet to be assigned a lawyer. He remained in custody on Friday.

http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?ac ... &catid=126

One more for everyone

From: Peter Jackson. [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 2:44 AM
To:
Subject: Legal Matter

My name is Peter Jackson and I provided a client of mine Mr. Robert Martinez a business loan in the amount of $394,000, He needed this loan to buy some equipment for his business in 2008. He is based in your Jurisdiction. The loan was for 24 months and interest rate of 8.75%.

The capital and interest were supposed to be paid on September 15th 2010 but Mr. Martinez has only paid $91,100. Please let me know if this fall within the scope of your practice so that I can provide you with the loan documents and answer any other questions you may have.

Peter Jackson.

Thanks Toledo and welcome to Scamwarners. Could you find the original email headers and post them, or PM them to a Mod or me so we can check this out. This sound like a typical lawyer scam but it would be great if you could send more info. Be sure to remove all of your info from the header.

Forwarded by a lawyer, IP is not traceable yet:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sherry R.Martinez [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011
> To: xx
> Subject: Legal Issue
>
> Hi Counsel.
>
> I am Sherry Martinez. I am contacting this firm in regards to my
settlement
> with my separated husband (Robert Martinez) who resides in your
> jurisdiction. I am currently on assignment in Asia. We had an out of court
> agreement (Collaborative Law Agreement) for him to pay $848,900.00 plus
> legal fees. He has only
>
> paid me $184,000.00.
>
> I am hereby requesting your firm to assist in collecting the balance from
him.
> He is willing to pay me the balance but I would appreciate if your office
> handles the collection process from my ex to avoid further delays or
litigate
> this matter if he fails to pay as promised.
>
> Sincerely,
> Sherry R.Martinez.

Hi

Have headers if someone wants them. Looks to have originated from a gmail account. Interestingly they adjusted the message to send to Sir or Madam depending on who the recipients were.

Cheers!

------------------------------------

Dear Madam,
Delinquent Account Services In U.K.

This is an official requisition for your legal consultation services on behalf of A.J.E Sons and Uncles Iron & Steel Co Ltd. We are based in United Kingdom and our principal activity is manufacturing/producing Stainless Steel Products,Alloy Fasteners, Metal Products and other Alloy Screen Works. Other activities include constructing, leasing and selling residential and commercial buildings and provision of investment services. We are presently incapacitated due to international legal boundaries to exert pressure on our delinquent customers in USA and Far East. We request for your services accordingly.

We got your contact information from the lawyers Directory as a result of our search for a reliable firm or individual to provide legal services as requested. After a careful review of your profile as well as your qualification and experience, we are of the opinion that you are capable and qualified to provide the legal services as requested. Please accept my sincerest appreciation on behalf of A.J.E Sons and Uncles Iron & Steel Company Limited ,in advance for your willingness to render your services as we look forward to your prompt response to our request.

We will advise the best of our communication to be via email, which will be faster for both parties.

Please get back to me on my email below for more informations.

My best regards,
Anthony j. Earl.
Chairman/Chief Executive
A.J.E Sons and Uncles Iron & Steel Co. Ltd.
Unit 22
Cradle Hill Indust Est
Seaford
East Sussex
BN25 3JE.
Email:[email protected]
Telephone :+447011149350,+447045746623

Thanks Tech. First of all, any UK number that starts with 44-70 is highly suspect. These are often redirect companies that forward the call to any cell phone in the world.

Do a google search for that phone number, it shows up as being used in several other scams.

Edit: I am resigning from the lawyer scam business and have moved on to better things I can do. Emails to what is posted in the signature will no longer be read. Sorry.

Bill

OK just one more that Lawpro wote me about. This involves copyright infringements and the counterfeiter will quickly agree to send a check.

http://avoidaclaim.com/?p=2678

Edit: the email address being used for this scam is [email protected]. I haven't researched this so I hope someone will take it on.

At least some are caught and put away -See Below -



Court okays extradition of Nigerian accused of defrauding 70 US law firms

The Nation - 11-08-07 Click here for original article


To stand trial on three-count charge

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted an application by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, for the extradition of a Canada-based Nigerian, Emmanuel Ekhator, who is wanted in the United States for alleged criminal conducts.

Ekhator is wanted in the US over his alleged link with a group that defrauded some US law firms of about $29 million.

Justice Fatimat Nyako held that with the evidence provided by the prosecution, the court was convinced that Ekhator should be extradited to the US to stand trial on charges against him at the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The court ordered the US Embassy and the Federal Government to perfect his travel arrangement and ensure his extradition within 15 days.

The three-count charge marked 10-244 was part of documents from the US Department of State exhibited before the court by the prosecuting lawyer, Mr. Islam Hassan of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Ekhator, who is said to be a member of a syndicate that specialises in internet fraud, is accused of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, involvement in mail and wire frauds and money laundering. Most of the offences are said to attract a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.

He was said to have evaded arrest in the US last year and escaped to Nigeria. The US? Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was said to have placed him on its watch list.

He was found in Benin, Edo State, where he was arrested earlier this year by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC, in a supporting affidavit to the extradition application, said Ekhator, who holds a Masters degree from the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, resided in Canada with his wife, Nkechi.

The commission described Ekhator as the arrowhead of a ring of fraudsters operating between Canada, US and the Asian Peninsular, that had defrauded some law firms of $29 milliom.

Ekhator and his gang were alleged to have, between August 2008 and August 2010 fleeced about 70 US law of over $29 million.

EFCC said its investigation revealed that Ekhator and his gang simply contacts law firms through e-mails, posing as potential clients, claiming to be representatives of foreign companies, seeking legal representation to help negotiate and collect, on their behalf, claims and settlement in cases like real estate transaction, divorce or torts.