Alerts

Warning: Telephone calls misusing the name of Co-Operative Legal Services Ltd

12 April 2021

Telephone calls relating to 'an accident' have been made, misusing the name of Co-Operative Legal Services Ltd.

What is the scam?

Telephone calls relating to 'an accident' have been made to members of the public. The callers purport to be from Co-Operative Legal Services Ltd. The SRA has been informed that one of the telephone calls purported to be from a person by the name of Ryan Parnell of Co-Operative Legal Services Ltd. (see below for genuine details).

The SRA has been informed that the telephone calls related to car accidents. The telephone numbers which have been reported to the SRA are: 07714 387687, 07851 714090 and 07851 717257

Any business or transactions through the above contact numbers are not undertaken by a solicitors’ practice or by an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Co-Operative Legal Services Ltd. Its Head Office address is: 650 Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4SD.

The SRA does not authorise and regulate an individual called Ryan Parnell. Ryan Parnell is not a genuine solicitor. The genuine Co-Operative Legal Services Limited has confirmed that it does not employ an individual by the name Ryan Parnell.

Co-Operative Legal Services Ltd’s genuine telephone number is: 0330 606 9548.

The genuine Co-Operative Legal Services Ltd has confirmed that neither it nor any of its solicitors or other members of staff have any connection to the telephone calls referred to in the above alert.

What should I do?

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.