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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

Commercial equipment purchase scam using the names Bruno Alvarado and Polígono Industrial

by FraudInfo

Two Ontario firms have notified us that they received an email from the purported Bruno Alvarado of Polígono Industrial looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will… Read More »

Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud

Commercial equipment purchase scam using the names Deke McLelland and Compass Ship Brokerage

by FraudInfo

Firms in Michigan and Georgia have notified us that they received an email from the purported Deke McLelland of Compass Ship Brokerage looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this… Read More »

Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud

Commercial equipment purchase scam using the names Chris Dean and Swift Marine Engineering & Equipment

by FraudInfo

Two firms in California have notified us that they received an email from the purported Chris Dean of Swift Marine Engineering & Equipment looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In… Read More »

Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase 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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