Mississauga lawyer charged with defrauding clients of more than $10 million
Police said Shahid Malik was arrested on an outstanding warrant at Pearson airport and was also charged with breach of trust.
A Mississauga lawyer was charged Wednesday for allegedly defrauding clients of more than $10 million.Peel police said the 41-year-old lawyer received millions of dollars in trust for real-estate transactions to allow victims to “pay off their outstanding mortgages.”
Between June and December of 2021, numerous victims retained the services of the lawyer to settle their real estate transactions, police said.
“(He) did not allocate these funds towards the outstanding mortgages,” police stated in a press release.
“As such, each victim has suffered a significant financial loss.”
The suspect was arrested on an outstanding warrant at Pearson Airport upon returning to Canada. “He has been charged with defrauding the public and breach of trust,” police said.
The lawyer “used his position of trust” to defraud excessive amounts of money from “hard-working people” in the community, said Superintendent Hubie Hiltz.
Shahid Malik, 41, owner and operator of Shahid Malik Law Office, appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton and was held pending a bail hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Police said they believe additional victims may exist.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 3335. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
Mississauga lawyer accused of defrauding millions of dollars from clients arrested at Pearson airport
A Mississauga lawyer accused of defrauding his clients out of millions of dollars worth of mortgage payments has been arrested, Peel Regional Police say.
In January, police issued an arrest warrant for 41-year-old Shahid Malik of Shahid Malik Law Office in Mississauga after he allegedly misappropriated funds he got from his clients.
Police said several people retained Malik’s services between June 2021 and December 2021 to settle their real estate transactions.
Malik allegedly received millions of dollars in trust that would allow his clients to pay off their outstanding mortgages.
However, he allegedly did not use the funds to make the necessary payments despite numerous requests from his clients.
Police said it resulted in losses estimated to be over $10 million.
On Thursday, police announced that Malik was arrested at Pearson International Airport on Wednesday when he returned to Canada.
He has been charged with defrauding the public and breach of trust.
“Mr. Malik used his position of trust to defraud a substantial amount of money from hard-working people in our community,” Peel police Supt. Hubie Hiltz said in a news release.
“This investigation and arrest demonstrated our commitment to pursuing offenders, preventing further victimization and the value of collaboration with the Canada Border Service Agency.”
Police believe there may be more victims and are urging them to contact the Fraud Bureau at 905-453-2121 ext. 3335.

Earlier this year a warrant was already issued for him but he still dared to return
Warrant issued for Mississauga lawyer after alleged fraud worth more than $7.5 million

A warrant has been issued for a Mississauga lawyer who police allege defrauded a number of clients, resulting in a loss of more than $7.5 million.
Peel Regional Police said in a statement that between June and December of last year, “numerous victims” retained the services of Shahid Malik, the owner of Shahid Malik Law Office in Mississauga, in order to settle real estate transactions.
Police said Malik allegedly received more than $7.5 million in trust for real estate transactions to allow the clients to pay off outstanding mortgages.
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“It is further alleged that despite the victims’ numerous requests, the suspect did not allocate these funds towards the outstanding mortgages,” the statement said.
“As such, each victim has suffered a significant financial loss.”
Forty-one-year-old Malik, who is a Brampton resident, is wanted on charges of defrauding the public and breach of trust.
Police said there may be other victims.
Anyone with information on the investigation or Malik’s whereabouts is being asked to contact police at 905-453-2121 ext. 3354 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.