Fake lawyers' websites

Online : don’t rely on appearances

Fake lawyers’ websites look real, are well-designed and look polished. The so-called lawyers are courteous, polite and convincing. Some will even use the name of a person registered in the Directory of lawyers and invite you to check it. If in doubt, call the person back at the number listed in the Directory of lawyers or write to the e-mail address listed in the Directory (not the contact information the person gave you).

The fake lawyers and the administrators of fake lawyers’ websites use many other strategies to lend credibility to their operations :

They are active on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
In immigration law in particular, they use the official logos of the governments of Québec and Canada or other official organizations.
They post positive testimonials on websites (e.g., user communities, blogs, Google) and social media platforms.
They reply systematically to victim testimonials and warnings, are reassuring and respond that services are provided by qualified and competent people.
They make people sign credible administrative documents.


		Warning lists of fake lawyers' websites with an address in Québec and of fake lawyers reported to the Bar of Montreal Those lists are not exhaustive. They contain only the names of websites and so-called lawyers that we have received complaints about and whose owners or so-called lawyers have refused to cooperate with the Bar of Montreal. Some fake lawyers’ websites or so-called lawyers are not included in this list either because they have not yet been brought to our attention or their names have been modified. Stay informed !

Fake lawyers and/or cases of identity theft of real lawyers :

Name(s) used

Contact information

Other details

« David Jean-Louis »

Usurps the identity of David Jean-Louis, a true Belgian lawyer.

Use the contact information of the real David Jean-Louis, Belgium lawyer, except the phone number and email address.

Phone : (450) 497-4986

Email :
david.jeanlouis120@gmail.com

Operating mode : in connection with false advertisements offering purebred dogs on several sites in Quebec (advertiser's tel: (450) 235-0964).

The potential buyer is advised to pay additional amounts up front.

When the buyer refuses, he receives an email from the fake "David Jean-Louis" demanding payment and threatening to prosecute.

In some cases, the fake "David Jean-Louis" calls to pressure the buyer to pay the amounts.

Letter from the real lawyer David Jean-Louis confirming the usurpation of his professional identity.

Fake lawyer's websites :

Name(s) used	Contact information	Website(s) and other details
MEHREZ LAW	Address used : 41 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2Y6 Other address used : 1111, rue Saint-Urbain MO4, Montréal, Québec, H2Z 1Y6 Tel : (438) 500-4550 (514) 612-7845 Fax : (514) 612-7888 Email : inquiries@mehrezlaw.ca	mehrezlaw.ca Facebook page : www.facebook.com/pg/MehrezLaw/ about/ (fake page) Usurps the identity of real lawyers (including Hazem Mehrez and Nicolas Aubin), none of whom practice at the addresses used by "Mehrez Law".
LLOYD & HOLMES SOLICITORS LLP Other name(s) used: Peter LLOYD Peterson LLOYD Yvonne SMITH HOLMES	Phone: +1 581 704 1804 Address (non-existent): 45, rue Saint-Laurent, Bureau 202 Montréal QC H2Y 2Y3 Emails: plloydjohan@gmail.com lloydholmessolicitor@gmail.com info@lloydholmeslawfirm.com lloydholmeslawoffice@gmail.com pl.attorney.22@gmail.com llopeter.attorney@gmail.com petersonlloyd55@gmail.com	www.lloydholmeslawfirm.com (hosted in Russia) Documents used to legitimize activities: Attorney license (false) Business Card (false) Canadian Passport (false) British Columbia Practising ID (false) CBA Membership Card (false) CBA Acknowledgement Letter (false) Use of the name of a legitimate financial company : Presentation and designation letter (false) Claim application letter (false)
LLOYD & SHAKESPEARE LAW OFFICE LLP Other name(s) used: Peter LLOYD Peterson LLOYD	Phone: +1 438 299 6770 Address used: 600 de Maisonneuve West, Suite 1910, Montreal, Quebec H3A 3J2 Canada Other address used: 2100 - 1075, West Georgia LLP Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 Canada Emails: plloydjohan@gmail.com info@lloydshakespearellp.com lloydshakespearellp@gmail.com pl.attorney.22@gmail.com llopeter.attorney@gmail.com petersonlloyd55@gmail.com	www.lloydshakespearellp.com Documents used to legitimize activities: Attorney license (false) Business Card (false) Canadian Passport (false) British Columbia Practising ID (false) CBA Membership Card (false) CBA Acknowledgement Letter (false) Use of the name of a legitimate financial company : Presentation and designation letter (false) Claim application letter (false)
SHAKESPEARE LAW FIRM LLP Other name(s) used: Peter LLOYD Peterson LLOYD	Address used: 2100 - 1075, West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 Canada Emails: lloydpeterf@gmail.com lpeterfredrik@gmail.com
procanadamigrate.com Other name(s) used : procanada.net	Whatsapp +1 438 300 1537 Phone +1 514 613 5413 info@procanadamigrate.com	www.procanadamigrate.com Facebook: procanadaofficiel

IMMIGRATION LAW

ATTENTION ! Several fake lawyers’ websites target an international clientele seeking professional immigration assistance. In Quebec, only the following people can represent or advise you in an immigration process :

Lawyers who are members in good standing of a law society of a province of Canada;
Regulated immigration consultants who are members of the ICCRC;
Notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec;
Any other person acting on a gratuitous basis.

Precautions to be taken

If the person identifies himself or herself as a regulated immigration consultant member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), make sure that his or her contact information matches those appearing on the ICCRC registry. If in doubt, call the person back at the number on the ICCRC registry (not the one he or she gave you). The ICCRC has developed a web page on fraud prevention.

As for lawyers, if the person claims to be a notary, make sure that he or she has a licence to practice as a notary by consulting the Roll of the Order of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. To verify if a person is a member in good standing of the Chambre des notaires, call the following number: 514 879-1793 or 1 800-263-1793 (toll-free).

If the person mentions that he or she will represent you free of charge, make sure that this is really the case. The person should not ask you to pay more than the administrative fees necessary to process your application, as provided by the government concerned :

Fee list (in Canadian dollars) for submitting applications to the Government of Canada (federal); or
Fee list (in Canadian dollars) for submitting applications to the Government of Quebec (provincial).

If a person asks for a donation or gift or offers to barter or volunteer for their services, they are not doing so for free.

Other useful resource is the Government of Canada’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Internet, email and telephone scams help page, which reads:
“It’s easy for criminals to copy a real website or build one that looks professional. Websites may claim to be official Government of Canada sites or their partners. Others may claim to offer special immigration deals or guaranteed high-paying jobs. They do this to trick people into paying them money.”

TO FILE A COMPLAINT

Form to file a complaint

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
Write to:
infractions@barreaudemontreal.qc.ca