FRAUD ATTEMPTS TARGETING FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS IN OKLAHOMA

The individual asks for your help in collecting a judgment the individual allegedly was awarded in a divorce action against the ex-spouse.  The individual offers you a very large percentage for doing very little work.  The individual asks you to accept payment on the judgment and deposit the money in your trust account.  Then the individual pressures you into disbursing the individual’s agreed share of the funds before the funds have cleared the bank. 

Be wary of any email from an unknown person seeking your assistance, offering to pay too much money for a simple transaction, and rushing the process to be paid their share.  a new client and send a corporate or cashier’s check for deposit.  Then, they will claim they have sent too much and ask for you to wire back the overage.  They will be in a hurry to get the overage back and request that you rush the process.  The fraud will be complete before the bank can notify you that the check was counterfeit.

RED FLAGS:

1.      Large cashier’s or corporate check from a new client  or alleged ex-spouse on whom you have little information

2.      Amount of fee not consistent with legal work required

3.     Request that you return funds by wire

4.      Request that wire be directed outside the U.S.

5.      Use of TDD hard of hearing relay or lack of any phone contact

6.      Urgency for any and all transactions