An alleged scam artist who took advantage of lawyers by pretending to have found a package addressed to them and then swindling them out of a fake taxi fare has been arrested, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said yesterday. James Hill, 50, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree forgery and petit larceny in a scam that targeted about 30 law firms over the last two months. Mr. Hill allegedly called law firms claiming he had found a package on a train addressed to them and said he would bring it to their offices if they covered his $38.50 taxi fare. Mr. Hill would then hand over a package containing copies of documents from the New York State Insurance Fund.
The district attorney was contacted by at least seven employees from various law firms. The complaint does not identify the affected law firms, but does say two are located at 885 Third Ave. and 80 Broad St. Previously, a partner at Hughes Hubbard & Reed, located at One Battery Park Plaza, had confirmed her firm had been swindled out of $100.
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