On September 20 I contacted and spoke with Robert Jackson with "Jackson Financial Group" regarding coming in as an equity partner on a project I was obtaining funding for. I needed a partner on the transaction for $12 million. Robert Jackson agreed to come in with the funds/equity needed for a fee of 6% and 20% of the project. I was at the final stage of my funding and this was my last condition so I agreed. Robert Jackson prepared an escrow agreement and placed it with American United Title and Escrow. I had already done my due diligence on American United Title and Escrow, as I had sold my 48 unit apartment complex through them November 2008. I was comfortable with the company although they had assigned this escrow to a different officer as the other one was out on medical leave. This time I was working with Gina Thomas.<br />
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I wired my funds to American United Escrow after the execution of the escrow agreement and 3 days after I got an email from Robert Jackson with a bank letter from HSBC London signed by the names of Stephen Cassar and Bruce Richards. After I got the letters I found a few different things that were odd. 1) I have banked with HSBC and I know major banks will not issue bank letters with signatures. There was also a bank seal on the letter which is another item banks will not do. I decided to call the phone numbers on the bank letter next. I called the numbers on the letter and found it odd that neither answered their phones during banking hours. <br />
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I decided to fax over the letter to the banking manager at the address listed on the document which as Mark Brown, 1st Floor 60 Queen Victoria Street London EG4N 4TR. They informed my that the letter was in fact fraudulent and was not even a letter they would prepare.<br />
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I proceeded shortly after (due to time difference) to call Gina Thomas with American United Escrow and explain to her what I found during my due diligence process. I sent her over my evidence that had proven Robert Jackson did not provide me the funds as promised but had provided me a fraudulent bank document. <br />
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Gina Thomas handled the matter very professionally and promptly returned my funds as I instructed.<br />
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Robert Jackson has since changed his phone number and his email address is no invalid. He is possibly using a different name as well.<br />
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If you have any further information in any dealing with Robert Jackson or Jackson Financial Group please forward to either myself or to American United Escrow.<br />
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Chad Markims [email protected]<br />
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Gina Thomas<br />
American United Title and Escrow<br />
[email protected]<br />
www.autitleandescrow.com<br />
www.americanunitedescrow.com