The Law Society is warning lawyers about a new email making the rounds
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The New Zealand Law Society is warning lawyers about a new email being used by fraudsters.
The email, which purports to ask for help with contracts, is from a certain “Yasuo Hirose,” who identifies as the president and CEO of a Hong Kong-based company called Sygma Engineering.
“We have just concluded negotiations on a merger deal with a customer company of ours in your jurisdiction. We have agreed to merge and carry on our businesses in the USA and Canada under an agreed name,” the email reads.
The fraudster then says that the company would like to retain the services of the target lawyer in “drawing up the final Contract Agreement.”
“Kindly advise us immediately on your initial retainer fee and terms of agreement and we shall forward you fuller details of this transaction. However, if this not your area of practice, a referral will be highly appreciated,” the email goes on to say.
The email is sent from “[email protected],” which gives away the scam, the Law Society said. “Well-worn phrases” such as “my name is and “your jurisdiction” also indicate that the email is an attempt to commit fraud, it added.
There is a real “Sygma Engineering & Construction Company,” which has the same address in Hong Kong as the physical address used in the email. The company has been contacted for comment.
