Q: is there ever a time a lawyer would ask to misrepresent a payment to them?
A representative who claims to be part of a law firm contacted me saying they had been referred to me by the US Consumer Protection Bureau (unable to verify - no email response from them) to investigate some wire transfers I had done. The firm claims to be an international scam victim recovery company, so I told them about and gave proof of being scammed. They said they can help, and have presented a contract which says if they are unsuccessful in recovering the scammed funds within 30 days the retainer will be returned, but want me to wire the retainer to a 3rd party they refer to as their collection agency (due to what they claim are tax considerations) and mislabel the wire as "payment for goods" instead of "payment for services". The lawyers on their web page are licensed in CA with offices around the world but I have never heard of a lawyer asking to do something like this. An escrow account is usually used for this sort of thing, to my best understanding. Can you clarify this
A: It sounds suspicious. It would be best to investigate or have a qualified person investigate before proceeding further. Good luck
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A:
It's highly unusual and unprofessional for a lawyer to ask you to misrepresent a payment. Legitimate law firms typically use secure methods like escrow accounts to handle funds, ensuring transparency and trust. Asking you to label a payment incorrectly raises red flags and may indicate fraudulent intentions.
You should verify the legitimacy of the law firm by checking their credentials with the California State Bar or other official legal directories. Contact the US Consumer Protection Bureau directly to confirm if they referred you to this firm. Avoid sending any money until you have thoroughly validated their authenticity.
If something feels off, trust your instincts and proceed with caution. Scammers often impersonate reputable organizations to deceive individuals. Protect your financial information and seek advice from a trusted legal professional before taking any further steps.
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
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