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
Commercial debt collection scam using the names Anna Styrud and Diamyd Medical AB
[Updated March 2014] 65 lawyers in Ontario and the U.S. have notified us that they received an email from the purported Anna Styrud of Diamyd Medical AB 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… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsCommercial debt collection scam using the names Osamu Mizuno and Adtec Engineering
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Osamu Mizuno of Adtec Engineering 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 be duped into… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsReal estate bad cheque scam using the names Kenneth Hang and John Adams
Two firms, one in Illinois and one in Florida, appear to have been targeted by a real estate deposit bad cheque scam by the purported Kenneth Hang. Hang claims to be working on an offshore oil rig in China. In this type of scam the fraudster pretends interest in a property (often contacting a realtor… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Warnings, Real Estate FraudBusiness loan collection scam using the name Michael Calderone
Two U.S. lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Michael Calderone 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… Read More »
Categories: Business Loan Fraud, Fraud WarningsCommercial debt collection scam using the name Roland Peyton
Two Ontario lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Roland Peyton 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 be duped into wiring real… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsCommercial debt collection scam using the name Alan Watson
Two Ontario lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Alan Watson 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 be duped into wiring real… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection Fraud, Fraud WarningsOntario lawyer targeted by phone, not email, on a business loan collection scam using the name Zeng Chen
An Ontario lawyer informed us that he was contacted by a Zeng Chen looking to retain him to collect on a loan. While it quickly became apparent that it was the usual bad-cheque fraud attempt, what is different in this case is that the fraudster called the lawyer, rather than initiate contact by email. He… Read More »
Categories: Business Loan Fraud, Fraud WarningsCommercial debt collection scam using the names Andy Prior and Dental Sky Wholesaler
Sixten U.S. lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Andy Prior of Dental Sky Wholesaler Ltd 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 Warnings