International Law

Yet Another Email Scam Targeting Lawyers: A Different China Twist

The so-called Nigerian scam turned its attention to attorneys, as we reported in prior posts, at that time purportedly emanating from Hong Kong. Already, in the past year, several attorneys, in California and Georgia, are on the hook for six-figure debts.

This morning, I received another scam e-mail, this time purportedly from the China Luoyang Glass Company. There is such a company, but this e-mail without a doubt does not come from that company. How does one tell that an email business lead is a scam? In this case,

1) The English text appears to be too competent for a Chinese company located in Henan Province. Press releases may be sent out to be translated, but e-mail is generated in-house, and contains errors which are not seen in the e-mail below.

2) My name is nowhere stated. That is because this email was sent out as a mass e-mail to many potential suckers. Chinese who are contacting you personally will address you by name an e-mail.

3) The return e-mail address displays a domain name of aol.com. However, the company uses its own domain name for e-mail. Notice at the company's website that the "contact us" link spawns an e-mail with the company's own domain name as the target, i.e. abc@clfg.com.

4) The properties of the e-mail itself display the e-mail origin: an account called presiden@floyd.nswebhost.com. Hmmm..... Surely doesn't look like it came from the company.

Just five minutes of due diligence removes doubt. This is not a genuine business lead.

Luoyang Glass Company Limited, No. 9 Tanggong Zhong Lu, Luoyang City, Henan Province, China.

Attention: Counsel

Request for Legal consultation services.

This is an official requisition for your legal consultation services on behalf of Luoyang Glass Company Limited.

We are based in China and our activities are the production and sale of float sheet and flat glass and reprocessing of automobile glass. Other activity includes the exploration of minerals.

We got your contact information from your office site. We looked up your qualification and experience from your profile and we think that you are capable of providing legal services as requested.

Please accept my sincerest appreciation on behalf of Luoyang Glass Company Limited in advance, for your willingness to render your services. We look forward to your prompt response to our request.

Thank you.

From: Liu Yixiong

Full post as published by Asia Business Intelligence on September 29, 2008 (boomark / email).