Alerts
Warning: Emails and website claiming to be for Ben Patel Law
10 December 2021
Emails and website claiming to be for 'Ben Patel' of 'Ben Patel Law'
What is the scam?
The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent to a member of the public, claiming to be from 'Ben Patel' of 'Ben Patel Law' from the email address 'benpatel@benpatellaw.com'.
The website 'www.benpatellaw.com' is operating and misusing the contact details, employee details (and some photographs), and some other content from the website of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below for details). The SRA has also seen a photo of an identity card which falsely refers to 'Ben Patel' of 'Ben Patel Law Firm' as being a solicitor.
The website also provides a contact number of '+44 7441447051', an email address of 'info@benpatellaw.com' and an address of '67 Gloucester Road, Cilgwyn, SA20 8TU'. The website claims to provide services in the UK, US, and Germany.
The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm called 'Ben Patel Law' or 'Ben Patel Law Firm'.
Any business or transaction through 'Ben Patel Law' (or 'Ben Patel Law Firm'), or using the website and contact details listed above are not undertaken by a solicitors' practice authorised and regulated by the SRA 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 Nelsons Solicitors Limited whose head office is Pennine House, 8 Stanford Street, Nottingham, NG1 7BQ. The firm' genuine website is www.nelsonslaw.co.uk and its head office can be contacted on 0115 958 6262. The firm also has offices in Leicester and Derby.
The genuine firm of Nelsons Solicitors Limited has confirmed that neither the firm or any of their solicitors or staff have any genuine or intended connection to the emails or website 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.