SCAMS AIMED AT LAWYERS

Here is one of the cleverest scams I have seen recently. This email is aimed at lawyers who handle collection matters (we do not).

"Attention Counsellor:

Abscon Textile Machinery Ltd is a manufacturing company with its head office in United Kingdom and branches all over the Asian continent. The management of Abscon Textile Machinery Ltd requires your legal representation for our American delinquent customers.

We are looking for a reputable attorney to represent us in America in order for us to recover monies due to our organization by overseas customers, and as well follow up with these accounts. In order to achieve these objectives a good and reputable law firm will be required to handle this service.

We understand that a proper Attorney client agreement must be entered into by both parties. Your consideration of our request is highly anticipated, and we look forward to your prompt response.

Yours Faithfully, Mr. David T. Pearce. For: Abscon Textile Machinery Ltd. 104 Leonard Street. London. EC2A 4RH, United Kingdom"

If the lawyer replied, he would be told that Abscon's customer owed them a lot of money. He would write to the debtor, and would soon receive a check for most or all of the amount claimed.

The lawyer would deposit the check, and wire the funds, less his fee, to Abscon. A few days later he would receive a letter from his bank stating that the check from the debtor had bounced, and asking him to make the check good.

It is very likely that Abscon Textile Machinery Ltd. does not exist (I cannot find it on the web.) It is also likely that the person who wrote the "debtor's" check would be the same person who contacted the lawyer initially. The stammer would count on the lawyer's sending the funds before the "debtor's" check bounced.

The funds wired by the lawyer would be immediately drawn out of the recipient's account. The lawyer would have to reimburse the bank and would be out of pocket for the amount sent to the "client."

Today everyone, lawyer or lay person, is a target of scam operations. Do not send any money or personal information, or have any dealings with anyone you do not know.