Howard Shindell Law Firm Scam 2023: Fake Letter!
Have you received a letter from Howard Shindell & Associates law firm Toronto about an unclaimed life insurance policy? Don’t be deceived! It is a scam. Howard Shindell is not a legit legal firm in Canada. Read this article to find out how this scam works, and how to avoid being a victim.
Howard Shindell & Associates Law Firm Toronto: A Brief Introduction
It’s a legal firm allegedly located on the 500 University Ave Suite 212 Toronto ON
M5G 2K. The company has its official website at howardshindelllawfirm.com. According to the information found on the website, the legal firm has been operating since 1994.
The inheritance letter from Howard Shindell & Associates have the following claims;
- you may have a long lost Canadian relative who was a real estate investor
- that the relative died due to Covid
- you may be in line for a life Insurance payoff.
Why It’s a Scam;
First of all, Since early 2023, lots of people have complained of receiving similar letter. In fact, one woman came out to say she had been duped by this same people.
Secondly, there are a lot of inconsistencies about the legal firm. They claim to have been operating for close to 29 years, yet the website data on Who.is showed their website was registered on April 2023, and will expire a year later.
Thirdly, they have provided an address which happen to be vague. We were unable to locate it on the map.
Meanwhile, If you have a deceased with a life insurance policy that needs direction, they would hire a genealogist who would be able to find the next of kin. It’s pointless sending letter to random people, and this is exactly what Howard Shindell is trying to do.
How Does Howard Shindell Law Firm Scam Work?
When the scammer sends out the letter, they request that you send a small amount of money to cover an administrative fee. It’s usually $20, $40, $50 or another reasonable amount. This is where the scam comes in.
Once you send the money, the scammer will tell you to provide your personal information and bank details, so they can wire the inheritance to your bank account. If you do so, your identity, credit card info, and other details will be stolen.
On the other hand, you’ll be told to pay a series of fees, charges or taxes to help release or transfer the money out of the country to your bank. The fees may initially be for small amounts but you will be asked to make further larger payments.
How To Avoid Being a Victim To Scams
Emails and text messages are common vehicles for scams. Social media platforms like Facebook can be hacked as well, so use security precautions with them.
In order to keep your personal data safe and secure, follow these basic guidelines:
- Kindly ignore any messages, voice mails or emails that seem too good to be true
- Search online to see if there are reports or proofs backing a suspicious call or text
- Never click on a link from an unknown or unsolicited sender. This includes links received in text messages and emails.
- Report the call.
- Beware of messages that your account is at risk. These might appear to legitimately come from a company you do business with, but often there are typos in the message.
- Never give out your passwords, crypto wallet keys, or other sensitive information. This applies online as well as over the phone.
