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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

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Recent Fraud Warnings

Equipment purchase scam using the name Robert Gibbs and Robert Gibbs Surgical Equipment

by FraudInfo

Two Ontario lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Robert Gibbs of Robert Gibbs Surgical Equipment, looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam (with a real company likely being impersonated) that presents as legal matter requiring the… Read More »

Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud

Equipment purchase scam using the names Peter Seagrott and Palfingermarine B.V

by FraudInfo

A few Ontario lawyers have notified us that they received an email from the purported Peter Seagrott looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase (an oil rig). This appears to be a bad cheque scam (with a real company likely being impersonated) that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance… Read More »

Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud

New variation of bad cheque equipment purchase scams involving buying medical equipment

by FraudInfo

What is old is new again! We have learned that a new equipment purchase fraud involving medical equipment such as MRI machines has made its way to Ontario. The fraud, which has been reported earlier this year in the US, follows the classic Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud. The lawyer is contacted to help a… Read More »

Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase 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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