Here are the latest scam alerts as issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
Emails misusing the name of David Oram at Hill Dickonson LLP
Members of the public have received emails falsely claiming to be from David Oram at Hill Dickinson LLP, regarding a purported unclaimed inheritance.
The messages relate to a purported unclaimed inheritance. The message invites the recipient to contact the sender and provide their personal details in order to claim the benefit of an unclaimed inheritance. The emails are sent from the email address oramofficee@gmail.com and set out the supposed contact details in the footer. This includes falsely providing contact details for the genuine firm of Hill Dickinson LLP. Any business or transactions through oramoffice@gmail.com are not undertaken by a solicitor’s practice or an individual authorised or regulated by the SRA.
Hill Dickinson LLP is genuine firm of solicitors which is authorised and regulated by the SRA, as is David Oram who is a partner at Hill Dickinson LLP. The genuine firm confirm that the messages referred to in the above have not been sent by the genuine David Oram, and that their names and contact details have been used without their permission or knowledge.
Unsolicited telephone calls falsely claiming to be from True Solicitors LLP
Members of the public have received unsolicited telephone calls from someone falsely claims to be from True Solicitors LLP.
The SRA were informed that member of the public received these unsolicited telephone calls from someone falsely claiming to be from a genuine law firm, True Solicitors LLP. The call came from the number: 01234 9859545.
True Solicitors LLP is a genuine law firm which is authorised and regulated by the SRA. The SRA were informed by the genuine firm that it does not make unsolicited telephone calls, and has no connection to the telephone number.
Website for Eldridge LLP
The SRA has received information relating to “Eldridge LLP Law Firm”, “Eldridge LLP” and the website www.eldridgelawllc.com. The website www.eldridgelawllc.com relating to “Eldridge LLP Law Firm” and “Eldridge LLP” falsely claims that it is a law firm and provides the names of its “attorneys”. In particular, the website falsely lists some of the “attorneys” as solicitors. One listed is Thomas Eldridge.
The website provides the email address as info@eldridgelawllc.com, the telephone number (+44 702 405 0841) and fax number (+44 702 405 0942). The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm “Eldridge LLP Law Firm” or “Eldridge LLP”, therefore no business or transactions undertaken by the above named practice or individual are regulated by the SRA. The SRA does authorise and regulate a genuine solicitor called Thomas Eldridge, he has no connection to the website referred to above and believes that his name has been misused without his authority. Eldridges is also regulated and authorised by the SRA but has no connection referred to above.
Email falsely claiming to be from Keystone Law Ltd
An email has been sent which falsely claims to be from Keystone Law Ltd, in relation to a supposed change of payment details. The SRA has been informed that an email, with an attachment which falsely claims to be from Lara Cole at Keystone Law Ltd, provides false bank account details for payment of monies. The details provided or not the legitimate details of the firm aforementioned.
The email sent from lara.cole@keystonelaws.co.uk is not authorised nor regulated by the SRA. Please note the extra “s” used in the scam email address. The SRA does authorise and regulate a genuine firm of solicitors called Keystone Law Ltd, as well as a genuine solicitor named Lara Cole who is a consultant at Keystone Law, her genuine email address is lara.cole@keystonelaw.co.uk
Both the genuine Keystone Law Ltd and genuine Lara Cole have confirmed they have no connection to the correspondence referred to above and that the genuine firm has not recently changed its bank account details.
Calls from Accident Compensation UK Limited
A member of the public has received a telephone call from Accident Compensation UK Limited in relation to a road traffic collision.
The SRA informed the member of the public that the caller falsely stated that Accident Compensation UK Limited is a firm of solicitors and gave a telephone number of 01133 144330. The SRA does not authorise or regulate a law firm called Accident Compensation UK Limited. Therefore, any business or transactions through undertaken through this name or aforementioned telephone number are not done so by a solicitor’s practice or an individual auhorised and regulated by the SRA.
What to do
The SRA say when a firm’s or individual’s identity has been copied exactly (or cloned), due diligence is necessary. If you receive correspondence claiming to be from the above firm(s) or individual(s), or information of a similar nature to that described, you should conduct your own due diligence by checking the authenticity of the correspondence by contacting the law firm directly by reliable and established means.
You can contact the SRA to find out if individuals or firms are regulated and authorised by the SRA and verify an individual’s or firm’s practising details. Other verification methods, such as checking public records (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.
