Alerts

Warning: Email claiming to be from 'Ahmed Sesay' of 'Freemans Solicitors'

15 July 2021

An email has been sent claiming to be from 'Ahmed Sesay' of 'Freemans Solicitors'.

What is the scam?

An email has been sent from an individual called ‘Ahmed Sesay’ claiming to be a solicitor at a firm called 'Freemans Solicitors'. 

The email was sent using an email address of ‘info@freemansolicitor.co.uk’ and provided a telephone contact number of ‘0208 243 8706’. An attachment to the email provided a postal address of ‘85 Great Portlands Street W1W 7LT’. There is a domain name registered at 'freemansolicitor.co.uk', however the website is not active.

The email misuses the name of a genuine firm of solicitors and the name and SRA identification number of a genuine solicitor. (see below).

Any business or transactions through the web domain 'freemansolicitor.co.uk' or the telephone number or email address above, are not undertaken by a solicitor's practice or an 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 Freemans Law LLP trading as Freemans Solicitors. The registered office is at 22 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HW, the telephone number is 020 7935 3522 and the website is www.freemanssolicitors.net.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Ahmed Sesay, who is a partner at Freemans Law LLP and his SRA identification number is 184632.

Both the genuine firm Freemans Law LLP and the genuine solicitor Ahmed Sesay have confirmed they have no connection to 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.