Seven U.S. lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Steven Parker of Chuo Engineering Co looking to retain them with regards assisting on corporate matters, but in reality is likely a lead-up to a commercial debt collection scam or similar kind of scam. This is a classic bad cheque scam… 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
Commercial debt collection scam using the names Zheming Qiu and Shengzhou Reaching Textile Co
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Zheming Qiu of Shengzhou Reaching Textile Co looking to retain them with regards assisting on corporate matters, but in reality is likely a lead-up to a commercial debt collection scam or similar kind of scam. This is a classic bad cheque scam… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudCommercial debt collection scam using the names Kayano Kikuna and Kikuna Electric Co.
Five U.S. lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Kayano Kikuna of Kikuna Electric Co. looking to retain them with regards assisting on corporate matters, but in reality is likely a lead-up to a commercial debt collection scam or similar kind of scam. This is a classic bad cheque scam… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudCommercial debt collection scam using the names Lee Masamoto and Kubota Industry Group
An Ontario firm notified us that they received an email from the purported Lee Masamoto of Kubota Industry Group looking to retain them with regards assisting on corporate matters, but in reality is likely a lead-up to a commercial debt collection scam or similar kind of scam. This is a classic bad cheque scam that… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudSeparation agreement scam using the name Mei Russell
Three U.S. lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Mei Russell 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… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement FraudCommercial debt collection scam using the names Gianlucca Perrota and Gamma S.R.L.
Three Ontario firms and one in Texas have notified us that they received an email from the purported Gianlucca Perrota of Gamma S.R.L. Limited looking to retain them with regards assisting on corporate matters, but in reality is likely a lead-up to a commercial debt collection scam or similar kind of scam. This is a… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudCommercial debt collection scam using the names Stephan Proennecke and DebioTech S.A.
[Updated Jan 2014] Twenty U.S. lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Stephan Proennecke of DebioTech S.A. Limited looking to retain them with regards assisting on corporate matters, but in reality is likely a lead-up to a commercial debt collection scam or similar kind of scam. This is a classic… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudSeparation agreement scam using the name Marina Kitaya (or Marina Chang)
[Updated March 2014] Fifteen lawyers in Ontario and the U.S. have advised us that they received an email from the purported Marina Kitaya (or Marina Chang) 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… Read More »
Categories: Divorce Settlement Fraud