Fraud Prevention
How to ensure you have secure funds
Article highlights: 1.For funds to be truly irrevocable, you need a PCRN. Anything else is a risk. 2.“On-Us” funds (e.g. when the payee and the payor are at different branches of the same financial institution) are safe and you can proceed. 3. Just because a bank releases your funds – even after a hold period… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionAre you ready for the Law Society’s new client ID requirements on January 1, 2024?
As of January 1st, 2024, the Law Society of Ontario requires lawyers who only meet with clients virtually to verify their clients’ identity online by authenticating their identification documents, or using an alternate, approved verification method. This ends the emergency virtual-verification measures that permitted verification through simply viewing identification documents online. The virtual authentication of… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionFederation of Law Societies launches online program to combat money laundering risks
The Federation’s of Law Societys has launched an online learning program entitled “Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Canadian Legal Profession”. The program is free and the Law Society of Ontario has accredited the program for 3 hours and 45 minutes of Professionalism content. From the website: “The practice of law exposes legal professionals… Read More »
Categories: Technology, Fraud PreventionNew variation of the bad cheque email scam referring to “Greenville Offshore Bank” in Toronto
An Ontario lawyer forwarded us what appears to be a new variation of the old bad cheque scam in which a lawyer is contacted from a client overseas to collect on a debt, divorce settlement or facilitate a large equipment purchase (see our full list of these emails here). In this version the clients claim… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionPolice release photos of suspects in mortgage fraud
See the Toronto Star article for the photos: Toronto police are asking for help identify two people who allegedly impersonated homeowners and sold their home without consent last year. Investigators say the owners of a Toronto property were out of the country on business in January 2022 when two people used fake identification to impersonate… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionAvoid phishing and wire fraud scams over the holidays
Fraudsters often increase their efforts over the holidays when key staff may be away and people generally may be more distracted or rushing to get things done before the end of the year. The risk of getting duped could be increased this year with many of us working from home and the usual checks and… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionRecent increase in bad cheque debt collection and equipment purchase frauds.
We have received several recent calls from lawyers with respect to equipment purchase and debt collection frauds. These frauds are not new, and in fact we have been warning lawyers about them for over ten years. However, they may may be new to newer lawyers. In these types of fraud scams, a lawyer is contacted… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionNow available for replay: LAWPRO CPD “Survival Tips to Prevent Fraud”
Fraudsters all over the world are targeting lawyers and law firms. Lawyers and law firms need real time tips to prevent frauds. In December 2021, LAWPRO and TLA’s program Avoiding the wire fraud nightmare – what you need to know to protect yourself and your clients introduced the latest wire scams against law firms and… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention