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Lawyer Fraud — Don’t Be Fooled!

To help Ontario lawyers avoid malpractice claims, LAWPRO maintains a list of names used in frauds that target lawyers. These frauds masquerade as legitimate legal matters and they target lawyers in many areas of practice. They are usually built on the premise of the lawyer receiving a payment (e.g. a debt collection, a loan or equipment purchase), which comes in the form of a fake cheque or bank draft. The fraudster client then convinces the lawyer to disburse funds from his or her trust account. They can be very sophisticated and the documents provided can look like the documents you would get on a legitimate matter.

The Law Society of BC’s Lawyer Indemnity Fund also maintains a list of names associated with suspected frauds.

If you have been the target of a fraud, you are invited to report the details to us so that we may assist other lawyers avoid being victimized.

Have a fraud to report? See Report a Fraud.

Report a Fraud

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Recent Fraud Warnings

Scam email making threats to Ontario lawyers

by FraudInfo

Four Ontario lawyers have reported to us that they have received emails claiming to be from a person hired by a disgruntled convict to “eliminate” them for their firm’s part in having them convicted of some crime. The message offers to spare the lawyer in return for payment. These emails are a lawyer-specific variant of… Read More »

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Separation agreement scam by Kathrine Chung

by FraudInfo

Three lawyers in Ontario and the US have notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Michelle Kathrine Chung with regards to a to a collaborative family law agreement dispute. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For details on how this fraud works and a… Read More »

Categories: Divorce Settlement Fraud

Business debt collection scam by Ken Moore

by FraudInfo

Two Ontario lawyers have notified us that they’ve received an email from the purported Ken Moore looking to retain them with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. This is similar to other frauds of this kind we have seen. For a full description of how this fraud works and to see other… Read More »

Categories: Debt Collection Fraud

Land Acknowledgement

The offices of LAWPRO are located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. LAWPRO respects and acknowledges the histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit nations.

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