Alerts
Warning: Website for 'Thomson Snell Legal Attorneys', falsely claiming to be for a law firm with an office in Watford
16 August 2021
A website is operating for 'Thomson Snell Legal Attorneys', falsely claiming to be for a law firm with a UK head office in Watford.
What is the scam?
The website 'www.thomsonsnell.com' is operating, claiming to be for a law firm called 'Thomson Snell Legal Attorneys'. The website provides a supposed “Head Office United Kingdom” address of: '#125, The Old Bank, 153 The Parade, High Street, Watford WD17 1NA', a UK telephone number of '+44 79 300 4001 77' and email addresses of 'info@thomsonsnell.com' and 'booking@thomsonsnell.com'. The website also provides apparent contact details for branches in South Africa and the US.
The SRA has also been informed that a member of the public has received emails from an individual called 'Lesedi Kopano' claiming to be 'Head of Litigation' of 'Thomson Snell Legal Attorneys' and using an email address of 'lesedikopano@legislator.com'. The emails seen by the SRA appear to relate to the supposed release of a fund of money – with requests for a power of attorney and initial payments being made. The emails provide another email address of 'lesedikopano@thomsonsnell.com'.
The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Thomson Snell Legal Attorneys' (but see below for details of a genuine firm with a similar name).
Any business or transaction through 'Thomson Snell Legal Attorneys' or the telephone number, email addresses, or website above are not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA does authorise and regulate a genuine firm of solicitors called Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP. The firm’s registered head office address is at Heathervale House 2-4 Vale Avenue, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1DJ. The firm’s genuine website is www.ts-p.co.uk and its head office telephone number is 01892 510000.
The genuine firm of Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP has confirmed they have no connection to the website or emails referred to in the scam above.
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.