Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

Fake Check Scam Targets Two NH Attorneys, One Loses $240,000

The US Attorney General, New Hampshire, and the Local Banking Department got two complaints in the recent weeks from lawyers whom international scammers had targeted. The scam involving a fake check has cost in excess of $240,000 to a local attorney.

In this cam, the perpetrators pretended to be overseas companies seeking for attorney services for cases involving money-collection. Believing the search to be real, two local attorneys accepted to take as clients, 2 bogus firms that would apparently pay a commission after the so-called money would be collected.

One attorney took a Chinese firm as client which retained him through e-mail. The firm claimed that one of its customers would pay the attorney through bank check.

The lawyer got a check of a huge sum. He deposited it into an account at the 'Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts' (IOLTA). Thereafter, the lawyer got instructions related to a wire-transfer.

According to them, the attorney had to wire 50% of the entire check sum to an alleged customer of the firm. Shortly, he learnt that the check, which had come to him, was actually fraudulent. As he was responsible for depositing that check into an IOLTA account, it meant him an immense loss of over $240,000.

Another lawyer, who took the other firm as client, got an e-mail telling him that a particular business was ready to make a payment without any intervention. The lawyer got a check as part of the settlement followed by wire-transfer instructions in favor of another party.

Prosecutors state that this second attorney after conducting an investigation found that the check he received was bogus. He further discovered that the scammers through false stationary posed as the rival advocate and the sender of the bogus check, as reported by Boston on July 16, 2010.

Karen Gorham, Assistant AG, who did an investigation of both the cases, stated that she didn't expect any arrest. But she recommends the potential victims that they should contact her officers or the bank before remitting money to unknown people or depositing checks coming from random sources, as reported by Boston on July 16, 2010.

Related article: Fake Spam Mail Announces Australian PM’s Heart Attack

» SPAMfighter News - 7/31/2010

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next