Lawyers in Ontario and the U.S. have notified us that they’ve received emails from the purported Wylie Lachlan looking to retain them with regards to collecting a debt. 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 names attached… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudLawyer 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.
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Recent Fraud Warnings
Commercial debt collection scam by James West of Brunel Medical Services
Three U.S. lawyers notified us of an email from the purported James West of Brunel Medical Services with regards to a commercial debt litigation scam. The wording of this fraud is nearly identical to another scam using the name Grenham Donal Falley. For a full description of how this fraud works and to see other… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudCollaborative family law agreement scam by Haila (or Kin) Atsushi
Three lawyers in Ontario and two in Alberta have notified us that they have been contacted by the purported Haila Atsushi (or Kin Atsushi) with regards 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… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement FraudDebt collection scam by Brian Butterworth
Two Ontario lawyers and one in Quebec have notified us that they’ve received emails from the purported Brian Butterworth looking to retain them with regards to collecting a debt. 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 names… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudDivorce settlement scam by Reiko Mitsuo
Three U.S. lawyers have notified us that they have been contacted by the purported Reiko Mitsuo with regards to a divorce settlement agreement. 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 of names attached to it see… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement FraudCollaborative family law agreement scam by Wang Chung/Wang Shun
An Ontario lawyer notified us that they have been contacted by the purported Wang Chung with regards to a divorce settlement agreement. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios, but what’s new in this case is that it is a husband pursuing the wife for support. For… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement FraudCollaborative family law agreement scam by Michelle Eley
A lawyer in Ontario and one in Saskatchewan have notified us that they have been contacted by the purported Michelle Eley with regards to a divorce settlement agreement. We saw this name a few times in 2010 as well. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement FraudBreach of contract scam by Chan Li of QUNI IND (HK) LTD
A lawyer in Ontario and one in BC have notified us that they’ve received emails from the purported Chan Li looking to retain them with regards 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 lawyer’s… Read More »
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