[Updated Dec 2013] A dozen lawyers in Ontario and the U.S. have notified us that they received an email from the purported Viktor Gustaf of Aptilo Networks AB 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… 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 using the name Christian Hartmann
Seven lawyers in Ontario and the U.S. have notified us that they received an email from the purported Christian Hartmann 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… Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudBusiness debt collection scam using the name Dionne Edwards
[Updated Dec 2013] 80 lawyers in Ontario and other provinces have notified us that they received an email from the purported Dionne Edwards 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…. Read More »
Categories: Debt Collection FraudBreach of copyright agreement scam using the names Anthony Yu (or Yun) and Ikeda Publishing Co
Fourteen firms in the U.S. have reported to us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Anthony Yu (or Yun) of Ikeda Publishing Co with regards to retaining their services to collect on a breach of an IP agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of… Read More »
Categories: Intellectual Property Rights FraudBreach of IP agreement scam using the names Miyahara Yu and GoerTek Inc
[Updated Oct 2013] Fourteen Ontario lawyers have reported to us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Miyahara Yu of GoerTek Inc with regards to retaining their services to collect on a breach of an IP agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer…. Read More »
Categories: Intellectual Property Rights FraudBreach of IP agreement scam using the names Terumaro Hiramota and ALC Press Inc
A Californa firm has reported to us that they’ve been contacted by the purported Osamu Tezuka Makoto of ALC Press Inc with regards to retaining their services to collect on a breach of an IP agreement. This is a classic bad cheque scam that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In… Read More »
Categories: Intellectual Property Rights FraudBusiness debt collection scam using the name Rick Benson
Two Ontario lawyers notified us that they received an email from the purported Rick Benson 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 FraudAsked to swear an affidavit to support a former criminal client’s appeal? Call LAWPRO first.
From a malpractice claims perspective, criminal law may not be as safe an area of practice as you might think: LAWPRO sees over 30 criminal law claims per year on average. These claims are sometimes complicated by steps taken by lawyers who take certain dangerous DIY steps in the name of claim “self-repair”. One of… Read More »
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