Skip to Content

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 name Cris Harper and Atkins Engineering Services

by FraudInfo

A California firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Cris Harper of Atkins Engineering Services 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 Lorne Edward and Eikoh/KHC Trading Inc

by FraudInfo

An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Lorne Edward of Eikoh/KHC Trading Inc 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 name Gunter Harald (or Trey Peterson) and Jet Air Part Group

by FraudInfo

An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Gunter Harald (or Trey Peterson) of Jet Air Part Group 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

Commercial debt collection scam using the names Emmett McAuley and Convex Contract Manufacturer

by FraudInfo

Firms in Ontario, Texas and Pennsylvania notified us that they received an email from the purported Emmett McAuley of Convex Contract Manufacturer looking to retain them with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. This appears to be a bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer…. 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.

Back to top