When you hire new employees, are you calling their references? Are the references even real? Have you ever done a criminal records check? You may do all of these things with new employees; however, in a number of cases it’s the long-term employee, the one who is intimately familiar with your accounts, systems, passwords and signature, who ends up stealing from a firm.
Lawyers will want to consider commercial insurance to protect themselves from these frauds as they are not covered under the Policy.
Forgery risks in mortgage transactions
Notice to the Profession, March 23, 2011
Do your systems protect you from employee fraud?
Practice Watch (p. 17), Benchers’ Bulletin, 2010 No. 3 Fall
Other resources
Recent scam attempts and fraud prevention
Practice Advice (p. 11) , Benchers' Bulletin, 2019 No. 1 Spring
Phony DocuSign scam
E-Brief, September 2018
Phony email payment instructions targeting clients in the US
E-Brief, February 2017
What to do if your laptop or briefcase is stolen
Practice Resource, December 2016
Fake Law Society complaints a cyber risk to lawyers
E-Brief, December 2016
Email containing Trojan virus eludes standard security software
Notice to the Profession, August 6, 2015
BC law firm's computer system hacked by extortionist
Notice to the Profession, December 31, 2014
Incorporating a company for a new client outside of BC? Beware of a new scam
Practice Watch, Benchers' Bulletin, 2014 No. 4 Winter
Request to replace a trust cheque - eDeposit scam
E-Brief, July 2014
Beware of fraudster wanting to upgrade your point of sale terminal
E-Brief, May 2014
Fraudsters may impersonate you – search your name on-line
Practice Watch (p. 17), Benchers' Bulletin, 2013 No. 4 Winter
Ontario law firm victim of large fraud due to infection by Trojan banker virus
Notice to the Profession, December 21, 2012
Protect your money: Avoiding frauds and scam
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have put together this guide to help you recognize and avoid frauds and scams.
The Little Black Book of Scams, fake websites and lawyers (Note: link to The Little Black Book of Scams)
Practice Watch (p. 11), Benchers’ Bulletin, 2012 No. 2 Summer
Fraudster pretending he’s been hired to create a law firm’s website
Practice Watch (p. 11), Benchers’ Bulletin, 2012 No. 2 Summer
Have you received an electronic trust deposit "by mistake"?
Practice Watch (p.10), Benchers’ Bulletin, 2010 No. 3 Fall
Getting rid of your photocopier? A potential gold mine for fraudsters
Practice Watch (p. 10), Benchers’ Bulletin, 2010 No. 2 Summer
New lottery scam
Practice Watch (p. 22), Benchers’ Bulletin, 2009 No. 1 Spring
Scams to look out for
Practice Tips (p. 20), Benchers’ Bulletin, 2007 No. 2 May
Last updated: May 2020