Legal Services scam

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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:16 am

Complete newbie here with a question that searches seem to show is new. Some scammers have gotten the lists of all attorneys in a particular state and are spamming them with requests for legal services. They are usually requesting help on collecting on a debt or child support.

All appear to originate from Asia. Anyone run across this before? How would I go about setting up a bait since these low lives are working from a Bar Journal and I don't want to injure the victim? Ok, so a lot of people believe that scamming a lawyer is fair play, but I've run across people who did the work in good faith and received a check that bounced.

Ideas?

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

We, as a collective, do not care the profession. A victim is just that. Nobody is fair game except lads.

We have baited a few of these just making up a firm name and responding to them. If you begin asking for the paperwork though they will drop you. I think BRUIN has posted a number of these in Surplus.

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:30 pm

Welcome Capone,

As NV has already said, we don't judge victims (or targets) based on their professions. You can see lots of examples of this scam over at our sister site Scamwarners. Here is one of the main threads--I am assuming this is the scam you are referring to.

Interestingly, though they use Asian companies, the scam is actually African-based. At least one ringleader was arrested for his role: http://www.law360.com/whitecollar/articles/408761/nigerian-pleads-guilty-to-70m-scheme-to-cheat-lawyers

If you are fairly certain the scammers are targeting lots of attorneys using the same info, then you can bait it like any other check scam. Use a totally fake identity (website optional), and if you do give a mailing address, make sure it is a drop box.

Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:28 pm

Thank you all for the information. I was astonished to see that Nigeria actually extradited one of the main operatives in this scam and that he's pled guilty.

I do see the problem-the lads drop out when you start asking questions. I will try a baiting account and a PO box and see if I can at least get a bank account or two and keep them engaged for a few months.

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