Oregon, U.S. counterfeit check scheme targeting lawyers

The Oregon State Bar recently posted the following alert on its Web site:

We have new reports this week that Oregon lawyers are being targeted by scammers. You can find details on the FBI’s website in a post entitled “U.S. Law Firms Continue to be the Target of Counterfeit Check Scheme.” The post also includes a link to a government site where you can report an attempted scam email. It follows: The IC3 continues to receive reports of counterfeit check schemes targeting U.S. law firms. The scammers contact lawyers via e-mail, claiming to be overseas and requesting legal representation in collecting a debt from third parties located in the U.S. The law firms receive a retainer agreement and a check payable to the law firm. The firms are instructed to deposit the check, take out retainer fees, and wire the remaining funds to banks in China, Korea, Ireland, or Canada. After the funds are wired overseas, the checks are determined to be counterfeit. Read Article