You know all of those emails you get that sound too good to be true? You know all of those emails are just scams, right? Did you know that people fall for them everyday. If they didn’t, those emails would stop flowing. But they don’t because they work.
Nigeria map, lego africa—shroncin (Flickr.com)
This story is about a business that got scammed. In fact, the business is a law firm and it wasn’t for just a few bucks. It was for $396,500. Not chump change in my book.
Scammers just got a big fish, a Minnesota law firm. It is being reported that Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz got scammed. Are they embarrassed? Not sure. Are they going to go after those pesky internet scammers in Nigeria? No. So, what are they going to do and who are they suing? This is a legal blog about law suits and law, isn’t it? Yes, it is and they are not suing who you think.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Wells Fargo! That is right. Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz is suing the big bank of Wells Fargo. The firm makes a great point.
The law firm claims they got a check from a client and deposited the check in the bank. The law firm communicated with Wells Fargo. According to the complaint, Wells Fargo said the check had cleared. After being given assurances that funds were in the account, the law firm started cutting checks. So, what is the big deal? What ever could have gone wrong? You guessed it! That check just went ahead and decided to bounce (said in a southern, country grandma voice).
“Wells Fargo did not issue the wire transfer in good faith because it failed to notice numerous red flags surrounding the circumstances of the transaction and the appearance of the check,”
“We believe the allegations have no merit,” the statement read. “We will vigorously defend, and expect to prevail.”
These are not scammers from the story. These are just normal, happy Nigeria internet lovers, Internet frenzy—oneVillage Initiative (Flickr.com)
This article was written by Joseph P. McClelland, attorney and author. Joseph P. McClelland, LLC represents clients in family law, general litigation, business law, personal injury and wrongful death cases. He is a member of the New York and Georgia Bar Associations.
For more articles on this topic around the web:
Law firm suing bank after losing 400G to Nigerian scam Fox News - The Inquisitr. Law firm suing bank after losing 400G to Nigerian scam. Fox News. Since when does a law firm need a bank to save it from falling for a Nigerian scam That’s the case in Minnesota where a firm of legal eagles that got tricked out of nearly 400000 in a scam that has cost more than 80 law firms and attorneys some 31 Law Firm Sues Wells Fargo Bank Over 400000 Nigerian ScamThe Inquisitr. Lawyer falls for Nigerian e-mail scam sues Wells Fargo.
I just got a scam in my corporate/law firm email:
Dear Friend,I am SSgt. Mark George, a US serving in the Hqs. Multinational Corps
Afghanistan, III Corps-Camp Victory, which Patrols the Kabul province. I am
desperately in need of assistance and I have summoned up courage to contact you.
I am presently in Afghanistan and I found your contact particulars in an
internet address journal. I am seeking your assistance to evacuate the sum of
$12,570,000(Twelve million Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand USD) to the States
or any safe country of your choice, as far as I can be assured that it will be
safe in your care until I complete my service here. This is no stolen money and
there are no dangers involved. Actually it is part of funds that we discovered
from the residence of fleeing Opium farmers in Afghanistan.I have now found a secured way of getting the package out of Afghanistan for you
to pick it up. I do not know for how long I will remain here as I have been
lucky to have survived 2 suicide bomb attacks by Pure Divine intervention. This
and other reasons put into consideration have prompted me to reach out for help.
If it might be of interest to you then endeavor to contact me and we would work
out the necessary formalities, but I pray that you are discreet about this
mutually benefiting relationship.
Minnesota Law Firm Milavetz Gallop Files Suit Blaming Wells Fargo for Loss in ABA Journal - Courthouse News Service. Minnesota Law Firm Milavetz Gallop Files Suit Blaming Wells Fargo for Loss in ABA Journal. Milavetz Gallop fell victim to the scam when someone claiming to be a 40-year-old Korean woman hurt in Minnesota told the firm she needed help securing a 400000 legal settlement report the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Courthouse News Service. Law Firm Claims Bank Cost It 400000Courthouse News Service. Wells Fargo didn’t block fraud loss lawsuit saysMinneapolis Star Tribune. Law Firm Says Wells Fargo is at Fault for its Fraud.
US law firm burned in scam blames the bank Financial Post - US law firm burned in scam blames the bank. Financial Post. Fox News reports on a Minnesota firm that was burned for 396500.00 in a bogus debt collection scheme. This case was similar in that a client retained the firm of Milavetz Gallop Milavetz in Edina Minnesota for assistance in collecting a debt.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS WELLS FARGO RIGHT OR IS THE LAW FIRM?
OR POX ON BOTH HOUSES?
Surely this is a straightforward factual dispute ? If the bank advised the funds were cleared, surely it’s down to the abnk. If not, then it’s the law firm’s loss, although we suppose the law firm should have been well and truly on notice if money is received with immediate instructions to dissipate the funds elsewhere from a new client ?
Good point. I checked out your site by the way. when you don’t use the www it goes to no page. Have your person fix that for you to help with traffic. Thanks for visiting my site and providing your insight.