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Lawyer Falls for Nigerian Lottery Scam

A few months ago, a Hong Kong company e-mailed me, saying they wanted to hire me to collect a judgment against a U.S. company.  I thought, "Scam." Why me?  Really, why me?  Unfortunately, an Atlanta lawyer fell for the scam.  Here is how it works: An overseas company contacts a U.S. lawyer by e-mail and retains that attorney as a settlement agent to collect a debt from a U.S. company. The U.S. company sends a settlement check to the lawyer, who deposits it into his trust account and then wires the settlement amount, minus his fee, to the "client." But the settlement check is counterfeit, and the lawyer loses the money he wired abroad.I'll look for the e-mail I received.  It was worded skillfully, and might have looked legit to someone who was easily flattered and who doesn't understand that there is no such thing as easy money...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime & Federalism on August 26, 2008 (boomark / email).