Alerts

Warning: Letters misusing the name of Slater and Gordon UK Limited

9 December 2021

Letters have been sent misusing the names of Stephen Clifford and Slater and Gordon UK Limited.

What is the scam?

Letters have been sent to members of the public falsely claiming to be from 'Stephen Clifford' of 'Slater and Gordon Lawyers'.

The letters claim that 'Stephen Clifford' is a probate solicitor for a deceased individual who supposedly used to live at the current owners’ address and requests the recipient to forward all of the deceased individual's paperwork to continue with the probate process.

The letters provide a false contact telephone number of 0330 320 1565. The letter also misuses a genuine branch office address of a genuine firm (see below).

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Slater and Gordon UK Limited. The firm has a branch office at 90 High Holborn, London, WC1Z 6LJ. The telephone number for this office is 0207 657 1555 and the main telephone number for the firm is available on their website: https://www.slatergordon.co.uk/.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Stephen Clifford, who is a partner at the separate genuine firm of Reeds Solicitors LLP.

The genuine firm of Slater and Gordon UK Limited has confirmed that it does not have any genuine or intended connection to the correspondence referred to in the above scam.

The genuine Stephen Clifford is also not thought to have any connection to the scam referred to 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.