I'm being sued by my credit union for a check given 2 my by a lawyer that had a "refer to maker" stamp on it that I later found out about after I deposited and cashed the check. The lawyer promised 2 handle the check but hasn't done so yet.

Hello m:

Just sue him in small claims court. You don't need a lawyer.

excon

Please don't type in all caps, its considered shouting.

You need to make good on the check then sue (or press charges against) the person who gave you the check to reimburse you for the check and costs.

- Are you looking for an Attorney to defend the case against you by the credit union OR an Attorney to pursue the other Attorney?

Refer to Maker covers many situations - what was the problem with the check?

i'm lookin' 4 an attorney who can do both. I want to sue the lawyer and his client who got me into this mess so i'm able 2 repay the bank and i also want a lawyer 2 help defend me against my bank so they don't think i'm tryna steal money from them :(

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Originally Posted by MEKAMEEK

I'M LOOKIN' 4 AN ATTORNEY WHO CAN DO BOTH. I WANNA SUE THE LAWYER AND HIS CLIENT WHO GOT ME INTO THIS MESS SO I'M ABLE 2 REPAY THE BANK AND I ALSO WANT A LAWYER 2 HELP DEFEND ME AGAINST MY BANK SO THEY DON'T THINK I'M TRYNA STEAL MONEY FROM THEM :(

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Here's my problem - you are here asking for free advice from volunteers who unselfishly give their time and talents.

You've been asked not to type in caps.

You continue to type in caps.

You are disrespecting "Scott," who asked you not to type in caps, and will probably disrespect the Court making any advice "we" give you a waste of time.

Hello again, M:

Please don't type in caps...

Look. You NEED legal help, but you're NOT going to find a free lawyer to do the things you need doing. Looks like you're stuck with us... That ain't bad. We know stuff.

So, why don't you tell us exactly WHAT happened... Tell us HOW you came into possession of the check, what the lawyer said, what you said, WHY the bank took the check, WHEN the bank noticed there were no funds, whether Nigeria or Ghana are involved... and things like that..

excon

Dang! My bad that's just how I write people. But anyway both men were Nigerian (the lawyer and his client) his client happens 2 live close to me and we've known each other for a while but the lawyer's from Houston and we've only been in contact 4 about 4 months. The lawyer had the check mailed to me since he said was out of town in Holland on a business trip and he said he wasn't able 2 cash a U.S. check in Holland. This was around Feb.18th. On Feb 25th I deposited the check into my account and the bank said the money will be available the 1st of Mar. that's when I also took out the money needed for the lawyer's client. On the 18th of Mar. my bank called me and told me the check had a "refer to maker" stamp on it.That same day I contacted the lawyer and his client, informing them of what happened with the check. The lawyer the promised to handle the situation and wire me cash 4 what the check was worth when he made it home in a few days, but that never happened.

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Originally Posted by MEKAMEEK

The lawyer the promised to handle the situation and wire me cash 4 what the check was worth when he made it home in a few days, but that never happened.

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Hello again, M:

And, it NEVER will. That's why I asked about Nigeria... You've been scammed. The best you can hope for is that you won't be charged criminally as a co-conspirator. The worst is that you'll have to pay your bank back.

excon

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello again, M:

And, it NEVER will. That's why I asked about Nigeria... You've been scammed. The best you can hope for is that you won't be charged criminally as a co-conspirator. The worst is that you'll have to pay your bank back.

excon

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Out of greenies but absolutely. No Attorney is going to help THIS situation.

No "pro bono" Attorney is, in particular, going to be interested.

I asked about the circumstances - had to be Nigeria!

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What kind of advice is that?

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Hello again, M:

It's not advice - just the truth. Here's some advice. Pay your bank back.

Excon

It is laughable that I am being criticized by someone who fell for a Nigerian check scheme and now thinks I should solve the problem!

Consider the source -

Hello again, M:

Let me try again. Although you HAVE a case against the lawyer, he's in Nigeria and you'll NEVER be able to sue him. Chances are you don't even know his name. This is an OLD scam. Would YOU put your REAL name down when YOU were cheating somebody?? No, you wouldn't.

So, there's NOBODY to sue. You got cheated. The bank, on the other hand, has YOU to sue, and that's what they're doing.. You have NO defense against their lawsuit. That's why I said you need to pay them back. If they'll take payments, I'd start paying. You really don't want to piss them off further, because they can call the cops.

Now, I KNOW you didn't DO anything criminally. But, the COPS might not think so. Certainly, if you STILL had the money, you wouldn't BE in trouble... But, you SENT it to Nigeria, or you gave it to his "client". In any case, YOU don't have it. I'm SORRY you got taken. You SHOULD have been more aware. They took advantage of YOUR greed, because they told you that you could KEEP some of the money for simply depositing the check in your account... It sounded like an EASY way to make money, so you went for it.

That's the way these things go. You got ripped off. You don't have ANY recourse against ANYBODY. Have you looked for the "client"? He's either a victim too, or you'll never find him either.

excon

Hello Judy:

Thanks for the balancer, but you missed. ;)

excon

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello Judy:

Thanks for the balancer, but you missed. ;)

excon

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What?

EDIT: Oh no! Off to find a moderator! (One of those days - I'm so sorry)

Hello again, Judy:

I knew you'd be horrified... That's why I sent the little winky face. You don't need a moderator... I'm COOL with it... It AIN'T going to delay the delivery of my toaster.

excon

To the OP - I'm just going to chime in because I think maybe the more people you hear it from the more it might help you:

These types of scams are very common and unfortunately scam artists find attractive ways to take advantage of well-meaning people. You just so happened to be one of those people.

The bottom line is: you will not be able to sue this lawyer. He took you for granted and now you have to pay the price. Call your bank and ask them if you can pay them back in installments, or what they would prefer. Many debtors are willing to work with their debtees if the debtees are willing to pay in any way they can.

I'm sorry you've had to learn this lesson the hard way, but at least now you know and you can move forward a wiser person.

Comments on this post
MEKAMEEK does not find this helpful : I DON'T Want to HEAR THAT. WHAT KIND OF ADVISE IS THAT?:(

Accurate and truthful advice. You've been scammed. I'll bet that for your efforts in cashing the check, you got a cut off the top. This is one of the oldest and most well-known scams around.

Comments on this post
MEKAMEEK does not find this helpful : B.S. ADVISE.

You are using the ratings feature improperly. Please review the rules for this site.

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Originally Posted by MEKAMEEK

Dang! My bad that's just how i write people. But anyway both men were Nigerian (the lawyer and his client) his client happens 2 live close 2 me and we've known each other 4 a while but the lawyer's from Houston and we've only been in contact 4 about 4 months. The lawyer had the check mailed 2 me since he said was out of town in Holland on a business trip and he said he wasn't able 2 cash a U.S. check in Holland. This was around Feb.18th. On Feb 25th I deposited the check into my account and the bank said the money will be available the 1st of Mar., that's when i also took out the money needed 4 the lawyer's client. On the 18th of Mar. my bank called me and told me the check had a "refer to maker" stamp on it.That same day I contacted the lawyer and his client, informing them of what happened with the check. The lawyer the promised to handle the situation and wire me cash 4 what the check was worth when he made it home in a few days, but that never happened.

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I suggest you go to the police and file a report on this immediately. There may be victim funds that might help you recoup some of your loss. In the meantime you need to repay your credit union, since they are also a victim here, but the only innocent victim.