In recent months, it has come to the Bar Council’s attention that unknown parties have been abusing the names of Members of the Bar and legal firms for unscrupulous purposes. In particular:
1) Emails have been sent to members of the public in the name of Members of the Bar, inviting the former to participate in fraudulent schemes. One example that we are aware of is where an email was sent to a person in Dubai in the name of an active legal firm in Kuala Lumpur, asking the person to participate in, and share profits from, a USD 12.5 million scam.
2) Sale and Purchase Agreements (SPAs) are being prepared by unknown parties in the name of authentic legal firms for the purpose of withdrawal of funds from the purchasers’ Employees Provident Fund (EPF) accounts. One legal firm was alerted when it was contacted by EPF to verify the SPAs. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the purchasers were not on the legal firm’s register of clients, nor had the developer sold any property to them.
Members of the Bar and the public are advised to be cautious and to take the necessary precautions to avoid such scams.
George Varughese
Secretary
Malaysian Bar
Members of the Bar and the public are advised to be cautious and to take the necessary precautions to avoid such scams.
George Varughese
Secretary
Malaysian Bar