Has anyone done business with Barrister Mark Ferguson in the UK ?

Question

Have been approach by him on a business deal and am checking for credibility.

Answer 1

Have you checked him out at the Law Society? Sorry I mean the Bar Council http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/

I've searched on their lists and can't find him. Where are his chambers?

Answer 2

Delete ALL email that tells you they will give you a chunk of money for your help.

My gosh, everybody knows that these are scams.

Read up on these scams on the Internet. It has been on TV many times on Dateline. You never get something for nothing, they just want your bank account number so they can steal your money.

Answer 3

I smell a Nigerian 419 scam email here.  You're right to be suspicious.  

"Mark Ferguson" writes to a lot of people with all kinds of offers of money and poses under various job descriptions and titles.  This one is typical:

From: Mark Ferguson - [e-mail]

Attention,

I write to you based on a request by an investor and his need for

investment/funding in your country.My name is Mark Ferguson, a

financial consultant and I work with a reputable financial services

firm. My company most times represents the interests of very wealthy

investors. Due to the sensitivity of the position they hold in thier

society and the unstable investment environment of their country,they

evacuate majority of their funds into more stable economies and

developed nations where they can get good yield for their money.

I was recently approached by a Reserved Client, whom I had personally

worked with a few years ago with a proposal.What he request is an

individual such as yourself, who will be willing to receive money on

his behalf abroad, and put it to good use for a period not exceeding

6years for a start.

The client has offered these terms:

1.30% commission paid to me and my foreign partner of the total funds

successfully evacuated. The funds in question are over 13.2Million US

Dollars.

2. The funds will be used by the foreign partner for six years as a

loan without any interest.That is,you do not pay any interest on the

money but you give the client 50% of all profits after tax that

accrued from the use of the funds.

If these terms are agreeable to you, kindly let me know and I will

provide you with all necessary information and procedures involved.

Looking forward for your prompt response.

Sincerely yours,

Mark Ferguson

You'd think these people would have some kind of imagination, but believe it or not the same bogus names and addresses turn up again and again.  

One bogus "Mark Ferguson" even has his own page here:

http://419.bittenus.com/MarkFerguson/

Maybe yours is the same one!  Either way, I'd give him a wide berth!