Why Trusting One Person (Even a Lawyer) With a Lot of Money Is Risky

When money is on the line, things can get tricky.

We’d like to think that credentials and titles make someone trustworthy—especially when they’re a lawyer. After all, they’ve got rules, licenses, and ethic codes to follow.

But human psychology, history (and the headlines) tell a different story.

Even lawyers have been caught stealing client money—sometimes millions. It’s not always because they’re “bad people.” It’s because trusting one person with a large sum of money creates risk.

Let’s break down why this happens—and what to do instead.

Yes, even some lawyers steal from their clients

It is happening more than you’d think. Here are just a few recent examples:

• Douglas Valente, a Stony Brook, NY attorney, stole $800,000+ from clients from real estate deals and mortgage refinances.

• Bruce David Bain, a divorce lawyer in Texas, took $235,000 from a client’s settlement. His defense? The money was “already spent.”

• John Spencer Jenkins in Florida admitted to using $643,000 of client trust money for personal expenses.

• Hyun W. Lee, a New Jersey real estate attorney, was sentenced after diverting millions in escrow funds to his personal account.

• Steven H. Salami took nearly $1.2 million from 60+ clients in real estate transactions.

• And in one of the more shocking cases, a Florida attorney disappeared after taking $760,000.

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These weren’t small-time scams. They were major breaches by licensed professionals who were supposed to be protecting their clients’ money.

Why does this happen?

It’s simple: too much trust in one person with too little oversight.

When you give someone full control over your money without a system of checks and balances, you’re relying on personal integrity alone and while most lawyers are honest, personal integrity can be worn down by stress, temptation, or poor judgment.

Good people make bad decisions when systems fail.

Red flags to watch for

If you’re involved in a big-money transaction (service contract, construction deal, etc.), keep an eye out for:

• No third-party oversight or visibility into where the money is

• Vague timelines for when you’ll be paid or refunded

• Being told to “just trust them” because they’re a professional

So what’s the solution?

Instead of relying on a single person to “do the right thing,” you can rely on SafePay—a secure, digital, neutral based, escrow platform built to protect both sides of a transaction.

With SafePay:

• Funds are held in escrow until both sides agree conditions are met

• No one can run off with the money—not even your lawyer or agent

• You get transparency every step of the way

• It’s fast, fair, and designed for service pros, clients, and dealmakers

Whether you're sending a deposit for a project, closing a real estate deal, or just want a paper trail that protects everyone involved, SafePay gives you peace of mind that trust alone can’t.

Bottom line

Trust is great. But systems are better.

Even licensed, respected professionals have made costly mistakes. If you’re moving large sums of money, don’t rely on a handshake. Use SafePay.

Because your money deserves more than hope. It deserves protection.

Want to learn more about how SafePay works? Contact us for a demo.