The organization representing lawyers in Montreal warned newcomers to the city to be cautious of fake immigration lawyers after an increase in complaints.

The Montreal Bar Association said the share of complaints it receives about fraudulent immigration law practitioners has tripled in recent years from 13 percent of total complaints in 2018 to 39 percent in 2022.

It also launched an awareness campaign this week to encourage members of the public to verify that their immigration lawyer is a registered member of the Bar Association.

David Etidge, president of the Montreal Bar Association, said many fake lawyers meet victims in informal settings.

He added that fake lawyers are often individuals who have been disbarred from the Bar, or immigrants themselves authorized to practice law in their home country but not accredited in Quebec.