October 30, 2009: I am an attorney and recently received a collection services soliciaiton from a "Yang Wu Feng", purportedly the "President/CEO" of a real company in the U.K., Voith Fabrics Stubbins Ltd. I e-mailed the actual company using its web site information, to verify authenticity, and received a reply email from Head of Communications saying that Yang Wu Fend is not the president and to discard his email. Also, the web site contact information for phone and fax differed from that in the bogus email.
Here is the text of the bogus solicitation sent 10/29/09:
[this is the return address:
[email protected]]
Top of the day to you Attorney.sequel to your recent mail,First I must thank you for your interest in this endeavour but before we commence it will be better you know more about our company,Voith Fabrics Stubbins Ltd is a manufacturing company and We are experts in the sales of Textile materials; we export Textile and Fabrics into North America, Australia and parts of Europe.
We have discovered that past dues are over $5,000,000.00 in Four State including California for Months now. We believed that we would have been paid this monies if we have a reputable Law Firm like yours to contact this customers on our behalf and demand payment. So we decided to contact you if you can and help in collection of these deliquent accounts.
Below are the areas we would require your expertise:
1) Provide legal consultation, collections of delinquent accounts,required representation / bring actions in court against the delinquent customers based on agreed amount per hour or percentage on collection made.
We will provide you with a retainer fee of $5,000.00 and You would be paid 10% of the total sum you collect on behalf of my company in every transaction that is passed through you to our company.
We understand that a proper Attorney Client agreement must be entered into by both parties so we want you to send us your standard letter of engagement or retainer fee agreement for us to review and sign, then we will provide you with the retainer fee and the deliquent accounts.
Please accept my sincere appreciation for your willingness to render your services, as we look forward to your prompt response to my email. If you have any questions, you can contact me personally anytime by Phone or email and send us your retainer fee agreement for our review.
I await your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Mr.Yang Wu Feng
President/CEO
Voith Fabrics Stubbins Limited
Stubbins Vale Mill
Stubbins Vale Road Bury,
Lancashire BL00NT
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 703 199 0751
Fax : +44 870 479 9755