Summary:
We were retained to investigate a multi-year romance fraud involving our client, who lived between Dubai and London and had been persuaded to send millions of dollars for supposedly legitimate investments in real estate and franchises.

The Story:

The scheme began when the fraudster - a real estate agent - convinced our client to jointly invest in several prime properties. The arrangement was that she would locate undervalued properties, they would jointly fund upgrades, and then sell the properties at a profit. At the time, our client insisted that every property was purchased in his name alone. After the purchases, our client continued sending substantial funds for renovations and improvements.

Approximately two years into the relationship, she introduced a new "opportunity" involving well-known franchises. Because the franchises were available only to U.S. citizens, she persuaded our client to let her act as the nominal owner, promising to share future profits. Also, claiming she lacked the financial strength required to qualify, she further convinced him that the real estate - still titled solely in his name - should be transferred into her name to demonstrate adequate assets. He complied.

When we first met with the client, he was unsure he had been defrauded, still accepting her delays and explanations due to the emotional nature of the relationship. Our initial property research revealed that loans had been taken out against the various parcels, leaving them without equity. Further investigation into public records uncovered multiple filings that led us to identify the new business she had formed with a new partner, as well as the specific franchises they acquired.

Over the next three years, we assisted the client in retaining US counsel and provided extensive litigation support, including locating defendants and witnesses and supplying documentation relevant to the fraud. We also researched the banks and brokerage accounts of the defendants including accounts in Mexico, Belize, and Sharjah (UAE).

We participated in two rounds of settlement conferences. The matter was resolved very successfully for our client.