Lawyers, who ought to know better, are becoming targets of scams. The latest one is aimed at lawyers who collect overdue debts.
The scam artist sends the lawyer an email, asking him to collect a large sum of money, and offering a very liberal reward (such as half) if he collects it. The lawyer writes to the "debtor", and, wonder of wonders, the debtor immediately sends a check.
The lawyer deposits the check in his or her clients' trust account. A day or two later, the check has not bounced, so the lawyer writes a check for his or her fee, and wire transfers the balance to the "client."
A couple of days later, the check bounces, and the bank charges it back to the lawyer's account. The check took a long time to bounce, because the routing numbers on the check had been altered so that the check would be sent to several different places before being returned to the bank where it was deposited.
The lawyer is now out of luck. The money is gone, and the lawyer has to restore the balance in the clients' trust account out of the lawyer's own funds. The money, transferred by wire, has long since been withdrawn and the "client" (who was probably the same person as the "debtor") has disappeared.
Here is a recent email I received from a supposed "client." I have blocked some names to protect innocent parties.
Hai Hong, Manager
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Qu Lin He Road
Tianhe Guangzhou
Guangdong
Guangzhou
China
Attention Counsel:
We will like to intimate you with a potential collection matter with a company in Massachusetts for review.
Name and address of company is XXXXXXXXXXX. The amount owed is $245,000 (Two Hundred and Forty Five Thousand Dollars Only.)
We await your position on possible representation. Treat as urgent.
Sincerely,
Hai Hong.
This email was obviously broadcast to many lawyers, with the hope that someone would take the bait. Possibly some unsuspecting lawyer will follow up on this email and Mr. Hong will "intimate" him with a supposed legal assignment to collect funds.
I am going to respond to Mr. Hong, to see what happens. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, regard any email solicitation with great suspicion.
