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

Separation agreement scam by Diana Trailer

by FraudInfo

An Ontario lawyer notified us that she was contacted by the purported Diana Trailer with regards to a to a collaborative family law agreement dispute. This is a fraud we have seen before under several other names and similar scenarios. For examples of other names attached to this kind of fraud see our Confirmed Fraud… Read More »

Categories: Divorce Settlement Fraud

Real estate transaction attempt using a possible fake power of attorney by the purported Cheryl Ryna Waksman and Yaron Nathan Waksman

by FraudInfo

An Ontario lawyer has notified LAWPRO that her name has been used without her knowledge as a commissioner on an Affidavit of Witness for what appears to be a fraudulent power of attorney using the above names. The lawyer did not commission the Affidavit of Witness and it appears that her signature was forged. To… Read More »

Categories: Real Estate Fraud

Phishing scam warning from LexisNexis

by FraudInfo

We are forwarding a warning from LexisNexis regarding a phishing attempt aimed at their customers. The fake email can be found below (click to enlarge it), and is a good example of how real phishing messages can look, especially if they appear to be from someone you know and deal with. There is good advice… Read More »

Categories:

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