Year: 2017
Beware of funds transfer frauds over the holidays – BC firm defrauded for six figures
The Law Society of British Columbia published the following warning to its members on December 15, 2017. A BC law firm has fallen victim to the sophisticated “phony direction to pay” social engineering fraud. Here’s what happened. The perpetrators hacked the firm’s computer, and then monitored the firm’s email traffic for some time before making… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionNew in the practicePRO Library: Lawyers as Managers
Today more than ever, all members of a law firm must work together as a team for the benefit of clients. Coordinating and getting the most out of everyone’s contributions is the responsibility of a firm’s managers, whether they are lawyers or administrators. The fact is that few lawyers enter the profession with management experience…. Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementBusiness loan fraud using the name Bowen Adrian
Two Ontario firms notified us that they received an email from the purported Bowen Adrian looking to retain them with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be duped into… Read More »
Categories: Business Loan Fraud, Fraud WarningsALIA Alert on spear phishing “direction to pay” scams (we are seeing these in Ontario too)
See below for text of an Alert sent today by Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association. We are seeing similar scams targeting Ontario lawyers. We encourage Ontario lawyers to be vigilant and follow the precautions in this Alert. ALIA has received additional reports of fraudulent emails being sent to lawyers in Alberta and other jurisdictions. In these… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionCommercial debt collection scam using the names Tomiji Hashimoto and Asuka Aoki Construction Co
Four Ontario firms have notified us that they received an email from the purported Tomiji Hashimoto of Asuka Aoki Construction Co looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam (with a real company likely being impersonated) that presents as legal matter requiring the… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsNew Rule on Advertising of Fees for Residential Real Estate Transactions
This is a November 2017 e-bulletin from the Law Society of Upper Canada. Convocation approved amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct (“Rules ”) in September 2017 with respect to advertising of fees when acting on residential real estate transactions. The new rule and its commentary provide guidance on the way in which lawyers advertise… Read More »
Categories: Real EstateDebt collection scam using the name Catherine Muller
Three Ontario firms notified us that they received an email from the purported Catherine Muller looking to retain them with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be duped into… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsReal estate bad cheque scam using the name Amy Fisher
Two Ontario lawyers notified us that he received an email from the purported Amy Fisher looking to retain them with regards to representing them on a real estate transaction. In this type of scam the fraudster pretends interest in a property and sends a certified cheque or bank draft as a deposit or full payment… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Warnings, Real Estate Fraud