Check Scams, Debt Collection scams and other financial scams.
#8278 by Diana Prince Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:20 pm
“Collection Agency Scam”

Background:

This attempted scam unfolded in Jan/Feb/March 2009. The President of a Collection Agency in the USA received an e-mail from a "creditor,” Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd, allegedly located in China, requesting the Agency to collect $300,000 in commercial monies owed by a "debtor.” The “debtor” was called Quikkit Aircraft Inc, and was described as being in the aviation business, with offices in Europe, Russia, Canada, and the USA.

As is the practice in their profession, if the Collection Agency were successful in collecting the money, they would receive funds from the debtor via certified check or other secure transaction. The Collection Agency would deposit it to their own business account; then they would forward most of the proceeds to the creditor, minus the Collection Agency’s commission. During the exchange of e-mails the “creditor” sent PDF copies of invoices and contracts allegedly signed by the “creditor” and/or the “debtor.” Upon success in collecting the debt, the "creditor" instructed the Collection Agency to remit their share of the funds to an account at CHINA MERCHANTS BANK (HONG KONG BRANCH).

Some weeks later a “certified check” for about half of the amount owed arrived via FedEx. It had been sent from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It was supposedly drawn on the account of The State Employees Credit Union of Maryland. The Collection Agency contacted the SECU before depositing it and learned that it was fraudulent. Moreover, while there is a legitimate bank in Hong Kong with the above name, the bank account seems either to be fraudulent or to have been hijacked. Law enforcement have been contacted, and investigations are under way.

Although the false names and alleged industries are different, this scam is similar in strategy to the “Delinquent Money Collection Scam” described in a thread elsewhere on this forum. That one was apparently aimed to defraud several legitimate USA attorneys/ law firms. This one is apparently aimed to defraud (one or more) legitimate USA Collection Agencies.

Note regarding the “debtor’s” alleged business name, address, and products: There seems to be a real company in the USA named Quikkit which produces kits for building amphibious airplanes. According to their website, that company is located elsewhere -- presumably not in a “Suit” in downtown New York City’s financial district.

=============================================================
Names involved in the scam

(Fake) “CREDITOR/ COMPANY”

Jim Tai Lee
Marketing Manager
Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd
[email protected]

JIM TAI LEE
TITLE ACCOUNT MANAGER

COMPANY: BOEING EQUITY,
INVESTMENT & AVIATION LTD
ADDRESS 6/F BUILDING 40,
NO 333 QINJIANG ROAD
SHANGHAI 200233 CHINA

PHONE: Tel: +86-21-5150 599

FAX(+86-21-51505955)
======================================
(Fake) “DEBTOR/ CUSTOMER”:

Company Name..Quikkit Aircraft Inc
Person Contact .David Mcdonald
Marketing Manager
Phone Number in Russia..+79117034326
[email protected]

DAVID MCDONALD

TITLE: MARKET MANAGER

COMPANY: QUIKKIT AIRCRAFTiNC

ADDRESS: 44 WALL STREET,SUIT 1124
NEW YORK NY 10002.

PHONE: 13472916657,19054524282

FAX (134797754591)
================================================
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#8280 by Diana Prince Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:51 pm
THREE SAMPLE E-MAILS received from "Jim Tai Lee"

=====================
From: Boeing Equity Investment Aviation Ltd [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:44 AM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: HELP COLLECT DEBT

Dear Sir,
We are a reputable air craft Company in China Singapore and Japan,we have adebt we would like you to collect for us please get back to us on how you Collect.

Regards
Jim Tai Lee
Marketing Manager
Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd

======================
From: Boeing Equity Investment Aviation Ltd [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 5:10 AM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: DEBT

xxxxxxxxxx

How are you today?i send you an email before i dont know if you receive it?i just want you to know the name and company that place thesame account in your company it might be from our branch office in China here or Singapore cause instruction as given from the managing director all branch should search for an attorney in the Usa or a Debt collection Company,but we would be happy if you can have this fund collected for us at the rate of 15% contigency fee %.

Regards

Jim Tai Lee

========================
From: Boeing Equity Investment Aviation Ltd [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:46 PM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: SALES AGREEMENT

xxxxxxxxxx

Thanks for your understanding and ur willingness attach is the sales agreement and receipt with invoice.please just make sure you try your best and give the debtor a call or email him why they refuse to pay us.

How ever we dont know how this collection may last as we need this money as soon as possible if there is a way you can use ur good office to solve this matter amicable we are still ready to offer your contigency fee % Attach is the invoice and receipt &Sales agreement and how you will get in touch with the debtor ,you can send them an email or call the person contact cause they let us know that he is there in Russia Office.if you still need more info or document you can let us know but i beleive this is enough for you to go through and call them why they refuse to pay as i am sending you this email i am sending to them so that they will know that the case has been reported to your company..Bellow is the debtor information..

Company Name..Quikkit Aircraft Inc
Person Contact .David Mcdonald
Phone Number in Russia..+79117034326
[email protected]


Regards
Jim Tai Lee
Marketing Manager
Boeing Equity Investment&Aviation Ltd
Last edited by Diana Prince on Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
#8281 by Diana Prince Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:02 pm
SAMPLE E-MAIL received from “David Mcdonald”

From: Quikkit Aircraft [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 12:43 PM
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Att.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear Sir/Ma

My name is David Mcdonald ,Marketing manager Quikkit Aircraft Inc,we are
a reputable aircraft industry in United state ,Europe even we have a
corresponding company and agent in Asia.

I received a forwarded email and calls from your client Boeing equity
investment& Aviation Ltd,that we should negotiate a payment through your
office regarding there outstanding in our company ,actually we promise the
end of December to settle the outstanding but all effort to pay the debt
prove aburtive.


Further more we are really sorry for all the incoviniency we might let your
client go through as we are ready to settle this matter amicable with you
and your client cause through the email sent to us with your email we
realise that you are a collection industry and we do not want this matter to
ecxide more than your comapny ,so there
fore we are ready to make a part payment in two weeks time,so please bear
with us and extend our message to your client so please forward us the best
way you will like the payment to get to you.

Regards


David Mcdonald

Marketing Manager
Quikkit Aircraft Inc
+79117034326
#8295 by Jillian Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:53 pm
Thank you for taking the time to post all of this, Diana. It will help others if they do a search on any of these details. :D

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#8317 by Diana Prince Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:21 pm
TEXT OF (fake) COVER LETTER sent with the (fraudulent) check via FedEx from Canada:
from "Mrs. Lucy Watson" of "AMCO INVESTMENT LTD."

AMCO INVESTMENT LTD.
Mrs. LUCY WATSON
88 Front St Toronto, ON M5E 1T4

February 10, 2009

<< 3-line name and address of real-life Collection Agency >>

Dear. << name of president of real-life Collection Agency >>


Payment Request

The enclosed check has been sent to you being part payment made to MR. JIM TAI LEE (BOEING EQUITY AND INVESTMENT AVIATION LTD.

It is however imperative that upon the receipt of this check you contact Mr. JIM TAI LEE. and our office manager Mr. John Williams by email: [email protected]

In order for us to update our records and prepare for any and all inquiries that your financial institute may find necessary to verify about the said funds.

Sincerely Yours


Mrs. Lucy Watson
#8511 by Diana Prince Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:09 am
Followup information re the return address on the outside of the FedEx Waybill from Canada,
in which a cover letter and a fraudulent check were enclosed.

Information about either address would be appreciated via posts here or Private Messages. The Collection Agency in the USA continues to cooperate with Law Enforcement officials in this matter.

================
(false) Cover Letter address on the enclosed letter: 88 Front St Toronto, ON M5E 1T4

================
(questionable) FedEx Waybill return address: 168 Queen St Toronto, Ontario, Canada

. . . Google search led to a real estate ad for an automobile dealership, listed on March 9th, 2009:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-housing-comm ... Z112319904

Kijiji Toronto > housing > commercial      

Building Land and Parking on Queen Street
Price: $825,000.00

Ad ID: 112319904 Visits: 35 
Size (sqft): 17362

Address: Brampton, ON View map
Location: Toronto
Date Listed: 09-Mar-09

Truly a rare opportunity in Brampton.
164/168 QUEEN ST. W., BRAMPTON, ON
 
    * APPROX. 17,300 SF. OF LAND
    * PARKING SPACE ~65 CARS
    * CURRENT USE; AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIP
    * IMPROVED BUILDING INCLUDES MAIN FLOOR OFFICE AND SECOND FLOOR RESIDENTIAL
(3 BDRM, 1 KITCHEN, AND FULL WASHROOM)
    * EXCELLENT NET RENTAL INCOME
    * IDEAL LOCATION; ALLOWS FOR A VARIETY OF USES

<<< NOTE WELL -- The above may be a legitimate real estate listing, but the address has been used in an attempted scam. Information/ clarification will be appreciated. >>>
#8513 by Ralph Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:59 am
Welcome over to Scamwarners Diana,

It is great to see you posting scammers details here, baiting can be fun and it does waste heaps of their time but there are few things that give you the same feeling as an about to pay vic stumbling onto your post and realise they were about to be scammed.

Please feel free to post more when you like :wink:
#9047 by Diana Prince Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:34 pm
Well, this entire matter seems to trace back to Nigeria after all.

The alleged "creditor" who initiated this matter claimed to be a representative of:
Boeing Equity Investment Aviation, supposedly located in China;
but analysis of the main e-mail header shows: 212.100.71.10 Lagos, Nigeria

The alleged "debtor" who replied on this matter claimed to be a representative of :
Quikkit Aviation, with offices supposedly in the USA and in Russia, among other places;
but analysis of the main e-mail header shows: 212.100.69.6 Lagos, Nigeria

(Law enforcement is still working on this matter, including tracking down the connection to a location in Canada from which a fraudulent check was sent to the USA via FedEx).

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