Fraud Alerts

We issue fraud alerts to notify the profession about new scams or developments that put lawyers at risk.

Email Barbara Buchanan, KC to report a scam or a fraud. 

Fraud alerts may include names used by fraudsters in BC. Real people with the same names may be the victims of a fraudster or of coincidence, but are not suspected of wrongdoing.


Land title fraud involving owners living outside of Canada

March 25, 2021

Random calls and emails inquiring about shelf companies

March 4, 2021

Trojan virus attacks BC law firm

October 22, 2020

Fraudsters continue to target BC lawyers

August 6, 2019

Potential fraudulent scheme involving historical bonds

July 10, 2018

Happy holidays? Not for one BC law firm reeling from a six-figure theft.

December 15, 2017

Fraudsters continue to target BC lawyers and their staff in relation to trust funds

October 11, 2017

Summer fraud alert: Email “phishing” scam targets vacationing lawyers

July 6, 2017

Fraud alert: Fraudsters again target lawyers disbursing trust funds

January 19, 2017

Fraud alert: Phony debt collection nets scammer $500,000

August 4, 2016

Email containing Trojan virus eludes standard security software

August 6, 2015

Attention real estate and other practitioners: Fraudsters are targeting lawyers disbursing trust funds with a change in payment instructions

May 7, 2015

New email "phishing" scam targets firm accounting staff and lawyers

April 8, 2015

BC law firm's computer system hacked by extortionist

December 31, 2014

Real estate firm's licence suspended and receiver appointed

August 28, 2014

Ontario law firm victim of large fraud due to infection by Trojan banker virus

December 21, 2012

Potential fraudulent investment scheme operating in BC

August 1, 2012

Bad cheque scam – real estate purchase by Kin Hang Cheung

June 1, 2012

Phony debt collection twist

January 6, 2012

BC law firm falls victim to bad cheque scam

December 15, 2011

Phony debt collection scams take many forms

July 21, 2011

Attention real estate practitioners: Fake law firm website used in new variation of bad cheque scam

May 2, 2011

Forgery risks in mortgage transactions

March 23, 2011

Real estate fraud alert

June 2, 2010

Fraudsters falsifying ID of major banks in counterfeit bank drafts mortgage deals

June 19, 2009

Lawyers targeted in new fraud scheme — incorporation and a small business loan

May 14, 2009

Attention real estate practitioners: A variation on the bad cheque scam

December 15, 2008

BC law firm victim of counterfeit scam

September 16, 2008

Identity fraud alert

June 10, 2008

Counterfeit bank drafts — yet another trust account scam

May 5, 2008

Fraud alert — counterfeit certified cheques

January 22, 2008

Law Society alert on value fraud schemes

August 10, 2005

Scamsters target lawyers

July 8, 2005

New rules require lawyers to guard against scamsters

March 11, 2005

Learn more about how to protect yourself in Fraud Prevention and Risk Management (other social engineering scams), Fraudulent investment schemes, Real estate: value and identity frauds, Employee fraud and other scams and risks.