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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 debt collection scam using the names Jim Berdzik (or Alvey Stevenson) and John Reid & Sons Ltd

Two Ontario firms notified us that they received an email from the purported Jim Berdzik (or Alvey Stevenson) of John Reid & Sons Ltd looking to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this… Read More »

Categories: Debt Collection Fraud

Commercial debt collection scam using the names Kazuo Yoshimoto (or Yeung Li or Wen Ch’en) and Tsuda Chemical Company

A California firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Kazuo Yoshimoto (or Yeung Li or Wen Ch’en) of Tsuda Chemical Company looking to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In… Read More »

Categories: Debt Collection Fraud

Commercial debt collection scam using the names Tomiyuki Nishioka (or Moriaki Minami) and Tsuda Chemical Company

Three California firms notified us that they received an email from the purported Tomiyuki Nishioka (or Moriaki Minami) of Tsuda Chemical Company looking to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers… Read More »

Categories: Debt Collection Fraud



Commercial debt collection scam using the names Eng Bonham Steven (or Samuel Johnson) and Adey Steel Ltd

Firms in Kansas and Minnesota notified us that they received an email from the purported Eng Bonham Steven (or Samuel Johnson) of Adey Steel Ltd looking to retain them with regards to a commercial debt collection. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In… 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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