Here are the latest scam alerts issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Letters using details from “Woolley and Co Limited”
The SRA say they have seen letters signed by “Andrew Woolley. Principal” as well as others signed by “Monica Woolley, Partner” or “Monica. Woolley. Principal Attorney”. The letters refer to “Woolley & Co, London, United Kingdom” and give the address for Woolley & Co Solicitors, as being Warwick Enterprise Park, Wellesbourne, Warwick, Coventry, CV35 9EF as well as a telephone number +447541313991. One of the letters signed by “Monica Woolley” also provides an email address of monicawoolley@woolleysolicitor.com.
The letters refer to an alert from the SRA published in May 2013 over correspondence sent to members of the public from a Monica Wooley at Woolley and Co Solicitors or Woolley Solicitors. It also claims that the partners at Woolley & Co are Andrew Woolley, Monica Woolley and James William.
Whilst Woolley & Co are a genuine firm who have a parner named Andrew Woolley at that address, they say they are not connected with these letters. The SRA does not regulate or authorise an individual called Monica Woolley or James William.
Any business or transactions conducted through the telephone number of “4475413133991” or the email address of monicawoolley@woolleysolicitor.com are not undertaken by a solicitor’s practice or an individual authorised or regulated by the SRA.
Texts claiming to be from Vantage Law Solicitors
Members of the public have reported receivign textx claiming to be from a Vantage Law Solicitors Limited in relation to a personal injury claim. The texts come from “448268243”. While the messages list the mobile telephone number of a gewnuine member of staff and the genuine firm’s website, the firm say they are unconnected with these text messages.
Emails claiming to be from Guy Abbiss at Abbis Cadres LLP
Members of the public have reported receiving emails falsely claiming to be from Guy Abbiss of Abbiss Cadres LLP in relation to the inheritance of a previously unknown relative.
The emails have been sent from “guyabbiss3@gmail.com” and “guyabbiss09@gmail.com.” and include the telephone number +44 787 2282 330. The SRA say emails have also come from “abbassguy77@gmail.com”
Neither the genuine solicitor Guy Abbiss nor the firm at which he is a partner, Abbiss Cadres LLP say they are connected with these emails. The firm also say they do not use gmail email accounts.
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.
