[Updated March 2014] 44 lawyers in the US have notified us that they received an email from the purported Kazuhiro Hirahara of Hinode Electric Co 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 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
Employee injury settlement scam using the name Edwards Shirley
A California firm notified us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Edwards Shirley with regards to an employee injury settlement scam. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be duped into wiring real funds from their trust accounts… Read More »
Categories: Employee Injury / Dismissal FraudCommercial debt collection scam using the names Park Cheng and Renasas Electronics
An Ontario lawyer and one in Texas notified us that they received an email from the purported Park Cheng, on behalf of Renasas Electronics, 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 FraudCommercial debt collection scam using the names Yasuo Masumoto and Kubota Manufacturing
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Yasuo Masumoto of Kubota Manufacturing 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 will be duped into… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudSeparation agreement scam using the name Kim Chihu
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Diana Mills looking to retain them with regards to a collecting overdue payments resulting from a separation agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement FraudCommercial debt collection scam using the names Lawrence Stevenson and Davro Steel Company
Firms in Illinois and Texas have notified us that they received an email from the purported Lawrence Stevenson of Davro Steel 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 FraudBusiness debt collection scam using the name Robertson Richard
A Massachusetts firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Robertson Richard looking to retain them with regards to a breach of a business loan agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be duped into… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudSeparation agreement scam using the name Diana Mills
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Diana Mills looking to retain them with regards to a collecting overdue payments resulting from a separation agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In this scam lawyers will be… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement Fraud