by Diana Prince
Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:20 pm
“Collection Agency Scam”
Background:
This attempted scam unfolded in Jan/Feb/March 2009. The President of a Collection Agency in the USA received an e-mail from a "creditor,” Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd, allegedly located in China, requesting the Agency to collect $300,000 in commercial monies owed by a "debtor.” The “debtor” was called Quikkit Aircraft Inc, and was described as being in the aviation business, with offices in Europe, Russia, Canada, and the USA.
As is the practice in their profession, if the Collection Agency were successful in collecting the money, they would receive funds from the debtor via certified check or other secure transaction. The Collection Agency would deposit it to their own business account; then they would forward most of the proceeds to the creditor, minus the Collection Agency’s commission. During the exchange of e-mails the “creditor” sent PDF copies of invoices and contracts allegedly signed by the “creditor” and/or the “debtor.” Upon success in collecting the debt, the "creditor" instructed the Collection Agency to remit their share of the funds to an account at CHINA MERCHANTS BANK (HONG KONG BRANCH).
Some weeks later a “certified check” for about half of the amount owed arrived via FedEx. It had been sent from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It was supposedly drawn on the account of The State Employees Credit Union of Maryland. The Collection Agency contacted the SECU before depositing it and learned that it was fraudulent. Moreover, while there is a legitimate bank in Hong Kong with the above name, the bank account seems either to be fraudulent or to have been hijacked. Law enforcement have been contacted, and investigations are under way.
Although the false names and alleged industries are different, this scam is similar in strategy to the “Delinquent Money Collection Scam” described in a thread elsewhere on this forum. That one was apparently aimed to defraud several legitimate USA attorneys/ law firms. This one is apparently aimed to defraud (one or more) legitimate USA Collection Agencies.
Note regarding the “debtor’s” alleged business name, address, and products: There seems to be a real company in the USA named Quikkit which produces kits for building amphibious airplanes. According to their website, that company is located elsewhere -- presumably not in a “Suit” in downtown New York City’s financial district.
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Names involved in the scam
(Fake) “CREDITOR/ COMPANY”
Jim Tai Lee
Marketing Manager
Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd
[email protected]
JIM TAI LEE
TITLE ACCOUNT MANAGER
COMPANY: BOEING EQUITY,
INVESTMENT & AVIATION LTD
ADDRESS 6/F BUILDING 40,
NO 333 QINJIANG ROAD
SHANGHAI 200233 CHINA
PHONE: Tel: +86-21-5150 599
FAX(+86-21-51505955)
======================================
(Fake) “DEBTOR/ CUSTOMER”:
Company Name..Quikkit Aircraft Inc
Person Contact .David Mcdonald
Marketing Manager
Phone Number in Russia..+79117034326
[email protected]
DAVID MCDONALD
TITLE: MARKET MANAGER
COMPANY: QUIKKIT AIRCRAFTiNC
ADDRESS: 44 WALL STREET,SUIT 1124
NEW YORK NY 10002.
PHONE: 13472916657,19054524282
FAX (134797754591)
================================================
Background:
This attempted scam unfolded in Jan/Feb/March 2009. The President of a Collection Agency in the USA received an e-mail from a "creditor,” Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd, allegedly located in China, requesting the Agency to collect $300,000 in commercial monies owed by a "debtor.” The “debtor” was called Quikkit Aircraft Inc, and was described as being in the aviation business, with offices in Europe, Russia, Canada, and the USA.
As is the practice in their profession, if the Collection Agency were successful in collecting the money, they would receive funds from the debtor via certified check or other secure transaction. The Collection Agency would deposit it to their own business account; then they would forward most of the proceeds to the creditor, minus the Collection Agency’s commission. During the exchange of e-mails the “creditor” sent PDF copies of invoices and contracts allegedly signed by the “creditor” and/or the “debtor.” Upon success in collecting the debt, the "creditor" instructed the Collection Agency to remit their share of the funds to an account at CHINA MERCHANTS BANK (HONG KONG BRANCH).
Some weeks later a “certified check” for about half of the amount owed arrived via FedEx. It had been sent from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It was supposedly drawn on the account of The State Employees Credit Union of Maryland. The Collection Agency contacted the SECU before depositing it and learned that it was fraudulent. Moreover, while there is a legitimate bank in Hong Kong with the above name, the bank account seems either to be fraudulent or to have been hijacked. Law enforcement have been contacted, and investigations are under way.
Although the false names and alleged industries are different, this scam is similar in strategy to the “Delinquent Money Collection Scam” described in a thread elsewhere on this forum. That one was apparently aimed to defraud several legitimate USA attorneys/ law firms. This one is apparently aimed to defraud (one or more) legitimate USA Collection Agencies.
Note regarding the “debtor’s” alleged business name, address, and products: There seems to be a real company in the USA named Quikkit which produces kits for building amphibious airplanes. According to their website, that company is located elsewhere -- presumably not in a “Suit” in downtown New York City’s financial district.
=============================================================
Names involved in the scam
(Fake) “CREDITOR/ COMPANY”
Jim Tai Lee
Marketing Manager
Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd
[email protected]
JIM TAI LEE
TITLE ACCOUNT MANAGER
COMPANY: BOEING EQUITY,
INVESTMENT & AVIATION LTD
ADDRESS 6/F BUILDING 40,
NO 333 QINJIANG ROAD
SHANGHAI 200233 CHINA
PHONE: Tel: +86-21-5150 599
FAX(+86-21-51505955)
======================================
(Fake) “DEBTOR/ CUSTOMER”:
Company Name..Quikkit Aircraft Inc
Person Contact .David Mcdonald
Marketing Manager
Phone Number in Russia..+79117034326
[email protected]
DAVID MCDONALD
TITLE: MARKET MANAGER
COMPANY: QUIKKIT AIRCRAFTiNC
ADDRESS: 44 WALL STREET,SUIT 1124
NEW YORK NY 10002.
PHONE: 13472916657,19054524282
FAX (134797754591)
================================================
