How to Scam A Lawyer…?

July 2nd, 2010. By AbiK

This is priceless. I’m doing my morning download/debrief from all the media and legal sites I follow and I come across a gem from over at ABAJournal.com. It’s a story about a 50-year old con artist who—and here’s the priceless part—was SCAMMING LAW FIRMS.

You have to take pause with this one.

Not because the perp was charged with second-degree forgery and petit larceny—hopefully he wasn’t engaging in such activity as his catch-up plan for boosting retirement savings—but because of the nature of the scam itself.

Here’s the deal: apparently this guy calls law firms, says he’s “Jimmy” (aka James Hill) and that he “found” a package—on the subway–that was addressed to the aforementioned firm. Ok, perhaps Good Samaritan, right? But here’s where the scam part comes in. He tells whoever’s on the phone at the law firm that he will deliver the package if the firm pays for his cab fare. 

Now, no, this is not some case of “please get a Moneygram wired to me at the corner of Walk and Don’t Walk” (yes, a nod to Lily Tomlin). No—this guy actually had a package that he would deliver. And then the law firm would reimburse “Jimmy” for his cab fare—and according the the abajournal post, sometimes that included tips!

That’s the low-down, and here’s my list of what’s wrong with this picture…

1. Crime scene is NYC. Is there any true, native New Yorker that would not raise an eyebrow upon receiving such a call?

2. It’s a law firm. These guys litigate this stuff all the time. Hello?

3. “Jimmy” “finds” the package on a subway. Ok, you could argue someone was careless. But was the law firm expecting something? Was there a courier service? Did the law firm ask whose name or info was on the return label?

4. Speaking of messenger services—if maybe that’s how the package got on the subway to begin with—did the messenger guy already call the law firm, realizing he left the package on the train? Or, does the package have a tracking number or code on it?

5. Again, it’s NYC. Last I heard, when you see an unattended package anywhere in or on mass transit, you don’t graciously pick it up and offer to hand-deliver it. You find one of New York’s finest and let him handle it.

6. Speaking of “Jimmy” again, is it not questionable that he should have so much time on his hands to be able to hand-deliver the package? Might his intentions be less than…honorable? (yes, I say that at the risk of typecasting “Jimmy”).

7. “Jimmy” showed up in person—did anyone think to tell “Jimmy” —feeling the need to call him “Jim” or “Jimbo” now—to hang out while the package was opened?

8. Wondering if anyone on the phone at the law firm tried this one: “Hey “Jimmy”, thanks, but what train are you on? See, if you transfer to the E, you can just come right up the escalator and our office is two doors down on the left.”

9. Curious as to how “Jimmy” was reimbursed—? Out of petty cash? On-the-spot? Did anyone think to ask “Jimmy” to fill out some form of reimbursement form that required his personal identification info (you know, address, phone, social…) and then to subsequently inform him that a “check will be in the mail”?

10. And finally, why not tell “Jimmy” this one: “Hey, you’ve done enough already to help us out—we wouldn’t want to put you out any further. Let us know where you are, and we’ll send someone right over to get the package from you.”

One, any or all of a combination of the above thoughts, questions, actions would’ve probably given “Jimmy” pause. But no. Result? At least thirty—30!—NYC law firms fell victim to this one…go figure.

Tags: law firms, New York, package scam, scam

This was posted on Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 10:12 am and is filed under Consumer Fraud, Emerging Issues . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.