Like the prior reports, a person purporting to be a Dr. Richard Ashton from the U.K. Presented himself by phone and email as buying a home and asked for legal assistance in reviewing the documents and disbursing funds. Our introduction came through a local real estate agent, also a victim of the scam. "Richard Ashton" mailed a cashier's check for us to deposit and disburse for the home purchase and other miscellaneous items (including approx. $200,000 to furniture purchase to be wired to an account at Chiba Bank). Luckily our bank informed us that cashier's checks drawn on foreign banks take 4 to 6 weeks to clear. After informing "Richard Ashton" of that fact, he ceased all further communication. This person appears to be using a UK business address of a Richard J. Ashton. The assistant for Richard J. Ashton informed us that they have received numerous attorney letters addressed to Dr. Richard Ashton, indicating this scam is widespread. Hopefully no one has actually disbursed funds on this scam. Had our bank not informed us of the delay in processing foreign cashier's checks, or had we gone ahead with the transaction, this scam could have resulted in a substantial loss to our law firm.
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