Below is a warning we received from an attorney at a local bank that we thought would be of concern to you. I have checked and confirmed that this collections assistance scam has made the rounds nationally for a while and is now starting to show up in Utah. One special point in this scam is that the name used as the sending attorney is often a legitimate attorney in another state.
Our thanks go out to the attorney that brought this to our attention with the following message:
"To Whom It May Concern,
I am in-house legal counsel for a Utah bank. I just wanted to quickly make you aware of a scam that is hitting the country—and Utah—which is directed at attorneys.
It goes like this: Someone from a foreign country will contact an attorney to say that they have a collection matter for which they need to retain a local attorney. They will establish an attorney-client relationship and after a short period of time, the client will notify the attorney that they have resolved the collection matter and that they have instructed the debtor to issue a check payable to the attorney. The attorney is instructed by the client to deposit the money into his account, take his fees, and then wire the balance to the client. The scam occurs when the attorney receives an official check which is bogus. He or she will deposit the bogus check into their trust account and wire the funds, less their fee, to the client. The check then comes back unpaid and the attorney has a big fat overdraft for which he or she is liable to their financial institution.
The target is usually, but not always, a solo practitioner."
A supporting article further detailing the scam can be found online with Law.Com at the following address:
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202427594436
Sincerely,
Lincoln Mead
IT Administrator, Utah State Bar
The following is a sample of the email received by a Utah attorney over the weekend:
SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL >>>
----- Original Message -----
From: Mr.Zhu Changqiu
To: undisclosed-recipients
Sent: Mon Apr 27 06:02:06 2009
Subject: Delinquent account services in USA
This is an official requisition for your legal consultation services on behalf of Malaysia Steel Work (KL) Berhad.
We are based in Malaysia and our principal activity is manufacture and sale of iron and steel products. The production process of the Group mainly comprises cooking, sintering, iron smelting, steel smelting and rolling. The principal steel products come in four major categories: steel sections, wire rods, medium or thick steel plates and train wheels and tyres. It imports machinery and raw materials and exports steel products. It is also involved in the planning and designing of automation system, metallurgical, construction and environmental protection projects. Other activities include purchase, installation and repair of computers and
communications systems; production, sale and transportation of slag products and provision of related consultation and technology services. We are presently incapacitated due to international legal boundaries to exert pressure on our delinquent customers in USA and we request for your services accordingly.
We got your contact information from the state of USA 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 your are capable and qualified to provide the legal services as requested.Please accept my sincerest appreciation on behalf of Malaysia Steel Work (KL) Berhad,in advance for your willingness to render your services as we look forward to your prompt response to our request.
Thank you.
Mr.Zhu Changqiu
Executive,
Malaysia Steel Work (KL) Berhad