(Ahem) If I may interject.

As always, I am not opposed to operating with multiple clients and customers  world wide as my biggest and highest paying client in my first company was in Europe, with the division I reported to being in India. 

That said, I have written in this site countless discussion posts about the dangers of not running due diligence checks on companies such as this before operating for them. Here they are:

1. If it feels suspicious, it probably is.

2. If you decide to go forward but feel "iffy", ask for half-up front as a non-refundable retainer. Attorneys operate on retainer models...

3. As stated in previous responses to this thread, do a check: check google, check LinkedIn. It can tell you a lot about who is who. Also run Patriot Act Searches because you never know and they COULD be a sanctioned person, company, address, organization, etc.

4. Be weary of generic or suspicious names: "Smith", "Tom Cruz": I recently got an email an email from someone using the name of a former president, no joke (Abraham Linkin?). Always ask for a phone conference (or if you are bold: video conference). If they decline, tell them "no" and hang up.

5.  CHECK SOURCE OF TITLE. Ryaan Technology Solutions has NUMEROUS NO PAY WARNINGS. I have known this for years. 

I get it as a small business owner, sometimes you become desperate, and you get all hyped up when someone calls wanting you to do searches for them. However, there are some GREAT TITLE ABSTRACTORS OUT THERE who are not always the most business savvy of people. My mentality personally is "I am a business man first, Title Searcher second".

It may be our industry, but it is YOUR BUSINESS: PROTECT IT.