Alerts

Warning: Correspondence falsely claiming to be from 'Samuel Michael' of Herrington Carmichael LLP

22 December 2021

Email falsely claiming to be from a 'Samuel Michael' of Herrington Carmichael LLP

What is the scam?

A member of the public has received an email from someone claiming to be  'Samuel Michael' of Herrington Carmichael LLP (see below). He purports to be a barrister, Attorney at Law and Notary Public.

The email requests the recipient, identified as the spouse of Samuel Michael's client, assist in the release of an inheritance fund from an offshore account. The author requests the recipient pay a processing fee of $3,500.

The email was sent from the email address: info@sam-carmicheal.com. This email provided a contact number of '+44 (0)1276 686 222' and the address of the genuine firm's London office (see below).

Any business or transaction through the above email address or phone number are not undertaken by a firm or an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA does not authorise and regulate any solicitor called 'Samuel Michael'.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Herrington Carmichael LLP, whose head office is at Building 2, Riverside Way, Watchmoor Park, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3YL. It also uses an office in London by appointment only, at 60 St Martins Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4JS. Its telephone number is 01276 686 222 and can be contacted by email at info@herrington-carmichael.com.

The genuine firm of Herrington Carmichael LLP has confirmed it has no connection to the email 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.