![]() If it sounds too good to be true then beware. Ironically the next day the “client” sent me a wire transfer authorization form for a bank in China. Within seconds the bank informed me the check was fraudulent. At this point multiple sirens were going off in my head so I made a visit to the alleged bank that issued the check. Still, I contacted the client and he was delighted by the news – so delighted that he asked me to deposit the check into my Trust account and hang on to it until instructed further. It is a good thing I constantly question myself because when I received the check my first thought was “why would someone trust such a large amount of money to a young lawyer with a solo practice that they had never met?” Self-doubt can be beneficial at times. Within a couple days I received a check for over $198,000. ![]() However, the debtor would be sending prompt payments to my firm and I was to subtract my retainer from that amount. The first red flag showed up when shortly after my representation was retained my now client informed me that arrangements had been made with the debtor and no legal action was required. The potential client signed my Engagement Letter Agreement and agreed to my fee arrangement – there were no red flags at this point. He requested my Engagement Letter Agreement, I sent it to him, and did some “Google research” on the potential client and debtor. I contacted the potential client, who was out-of-state, had several e-mail conversations, and engaged in a game of phone tag. This should be a strength but unfortunately Internet fraudsters turn it into a weakness. He received the potential client inquiry through his firm website which has been search engine optimized to the tenth degree. Have you heard the saying if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is? My advice to young and especially new attorneys is if it sounds too good to be true then beware.Ī few weeks ago a colleague of mine who has built a successful solo practice referred a collection matter to me. Posted in People If it sounds too good to be true …
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