J.barker@barkeroil.com 2024 Reports & Reviews

[email protected] Reports & Reviews (1)

- Bristol, VT, USA • Oct 21, 2024

Scammer's phone (405) 240-9539
Scammer's website www.barkeroil.com, www.barkeroilandgas.com
Scammer's address 5424 East 105th Place, Tulsa, OK 74137, USA
Scammer's email [email protected]
Country United States
Victim Location VT 05443, USA
Total money lost $246,670
Type of a scam Utility

9/10/24: Attorney Diane Goad reached out as a consultant to Barker Oil & Gas seeking a contract attorney. The same day I told her I

practice critical infrastructure law, shared my website and LinkedIn profile and asked what they needed. I only later learned Diane was also implicated and her identity stolen. Another attorney in Louisiana also lost money to the scheme. 9/12/24: Jack Barker of

Barker Oil & Gas reached out and explained the scope of work, contract drafting, document review, and overseeing the transaction

for a late October closing, a large oil rig rental for a one year term which would cost about $5M. He provided the VT company's

information for conflicts check, and advised he would get board approval for my legal services. I researched both companies, cleared

conflicts, and sent Jack a retainer with the stated scope of work, requesting $4,800 in attorney fees. It appears the websites and all emails and phone numbers associated with them were falsified. 9/16/24: Jack returned the

signed retainer, requested that as counsel I could hold certain deposit for transactional fees in my trust account, and attorney fees

would be paid from the initial deposit. They were working up the Letter of Intent which he would carefully review and send to me

soon. I executed and returned the retainer and included information about where he could send the deposit. 10/1/24: Allen Brokerage

CFO Dennis Harvey working with Jack provided me with the LOI and advised a check had been sent to my office. The brokerage company appears real but may be fake or impersonated. 10/3/24: I reviewed

and sent advisement to Jack about the LOI terms. 10/4/24: Jack and I corresponded about next steps for LOI as he was finalizing it.

10/7/24: I received via FedEx the fully executed LOI as well as a $298,500 cashier's check for inspection, transport, security deposit,

and attorney fees. That day I deposited this to my trust account. 10/8/24: The funds having cleared my account, I received wire

instructions from Jack to pay ECO LTD for the inspection and transport. I authorized the transfer because the funds had cleared.

10/10/24: I received notice that although the funds had cleared, there was a return and a note "refer to maker." I spoke with my bank

who indicated this may mean insufficient funds and I should talk to the broker. Dennis immediately said he would fix it. That day, I

received a second check ($497,340) for security deposit which is still in my possession. 10/11/24: Friday of a holiday weekend, Dennis

said HSBC assured him that the funds would be available by COB Monday. 10/15/24: Tuesday following the holiday weekend Dennis

indicated the issue was resolved and that I could deposit the second check to cover the first invoice and bring my account to

positive. A representative at my bank said it was not resolved and suggested that I call HSBC for detail on the reason for return. I

spoke with HSBC who would not provide information to me as a third party. I then spoke with my bank's financial intelligence

specialist (Community Bank) who called HSBC hoping to get more information. According to the intelligence specialist, HSBC told

him the check was issued for .02, not $298,500 and was altered with indicators of fraud; the second check for $497,340 also

appeared fraudulent. The scammers tried to get a second wire for 189, 580 for minor repairs but we caught this in time. I filed a complaint with the FBI, the FCC, FTC, VT attorney general, the Vermont bar, the California bar, and my insurance companies. Citibank is attempting to track down the funds, working with my bank, Community Bank. Thankfully no other client monies were implicated here as my trust account was not holding other client funds.

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