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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


Browse Fraud Categories

Recent Fraud Warnings

Collaborative family law agreement scam by Valerie (or Shima) Yashushi (or Yasushi)

Over 50 lawyers in the U.S. and Canada have notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Valerie (or Shima) Yashushi (or Yasushi) 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 Fraud


Commercial debt collection scam by Dan Hensen (or Greg Hensen or Timothy Rager) of Hensen Equipment LLC

46 lawyers in Canada and the U.S. have told us they’ve received emails from the purported Dan (or Greg) Hensen, or Timothy Rager, with regards to a commercial debt litigation scam. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud Page. For an explanation of how this fraud works… Read More »

Categories: Debt Collection Fraud


Debt collection scam by Wylie Lachlan

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 Fraud



Debt 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 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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