Risk Management & Claims Prevention
Are 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 PreventionNew wellness resources from the Member Assistance Program
Beginning December 1, Homewood Health will be updating the myassistplan.com web portal to incorporate the new “Pathfinder” user-interface system. Through a series of simple questions, the anonymous Pathfinder system will quickly guide lawyers to curated lifestyle coaching, counselling, peer-support, and online resources that are directed at the specific needs of each lawyer. Lawyers can book… Read More »
Categories: Wellness and BalanceFederation 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: Fraud Prevention, TechnologyNew 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 PreventionBe on the lookout for administrative dismissals
Lawyers are advised to be on the lookout for policy changes and warnings coming from courts and tribunals within Ontario. Since 2020, many judicial bodies in Ontario have suspended administrative dismissals in some or all cases due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the MAG issued a direction to suspend the issuance… Read More »
Categories: Risk Management & Claims PreventionMental health impact starts with awareness: take a free course (or two)
There is much evidence to support the notion that when mental health is prioritized in the workplace – everyone benefits. Even though the pandemic further amplified the importance of mental wellness at work, there is still work to be done to reduce the stigma, normalize dialogue and put formal procedures into place to support mental… Read More »
Categories: Wellness and BalancePolice 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 Prevention