About FraudInfo
Fraud continues to be a significant and costly problem for LAWPRO.
Fraudsters are successfully duping lawyers and law clerks, and it’s not
just real estate lawyers who are being targeted. Litigation, business, IP and family law lawyers are frequent targets of bad cheque scams involving debt collections, business loans, licensing disputes, and spousal support payments.
Don’t be complacent and think you would never be fooled. These frauds
are very sophisticated. The matters will look legitimate, the fraudsters will be very convincing and the client ID and other documents you get will look real. The fake cheques have fooled bank tellers and branch managers. There may even be two or more people collaborating on both sides of a transaction to make the scenario more convincing.
FraudInfo's Posts
Business debt collection scam using the name Leslie Gale
Three lawyers in Ontario and the U.S. have notified us that they received an email from the purported Leslie Gale 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… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsCommercial equipment purchase scam using the name Lia Nelson
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Lia Nelson looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This is a bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be duped into wiring real funds… Read More »
Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud, Fraud WarningsBusiness loan collection scam using the name Sabrina Taylor
Three Ontario lawyers notified us that they received an email from the purported Sabrina Taylor 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 WarningsTextbook Example of Deposit/Retainer Fraud on Real Estate Deal
An Ontario lawyer has reported to the TitlePLUS department a real estate deal that appears to be a deposit fraud scam. This is a textbook example where the purchaser attempts to “take back” or “draw down” monies from a fraudulent deposit cheque before the cheque has bounced. It is a scenario that Ontario real estate… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Warnings, Real Estate FraudBreach of contract/collection scam by T Hari Sankar or Yati Dini Hari
Three Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve received emails from the purported “Yati” (or T Hari Sankar, or Yati Dini Hari) looking to retain them with regard to a breach of contract. This is a variant of the basic bad cheque scam in which the aim is to have a counterfeit cheque deposited in the… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsCommercial debt collection scam using the name Ian Wylie and Wylie Architects
Nine Ontario firms notified us that they received an email (and in one case, a phone call) from the purported Ian Wylie of Wylie Architects looking to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsDivorce settlement agreement scam by Reika Page
An Ontario lawyer and seven US lawyers have notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Reika Page with regard to collection of court-ordered funds in a divorce. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For details on how this fraud works and a full list… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement Fraud, Fraud WarningsSeparation agreement scam using the name Lysa Walter
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Lysa Walter looking to retain them with regards to a collecting overdue payments resulting from a separation 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… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement Fraud, Fraud Warnings