Alerts
Warning: Email misusing the name of Gilroy Steel Solicitors Ltd
8 June 2021
An email has been sent falsely claiming to be from Gilroy Steel Solicitors Ltd in respect of deposit funds for a conveyancing transaction.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been informed that a member of the public has received emails falsely claiming to be from Amber Leggett of Gilroy Steel Solicitors Ltd, in respect of deposit funds for conveyancing transaction.
The email address seen by the SRA appears as if sent from the email address 'amber.leggett@gilroysteel.com' and it gave the ‘Reply-To’ email address of 'amber.leggett@conveyancerlaw.co.uk'.
Any business or transactions through the above email addresses are not undertaken by a solicitor's practice authorised and regulated by the SRA or by an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA. (see below for the similar email address of a genuine person).
An additional scam alert was recently published where the domain '@conveyancerlaw.co.uk' has also been used as the ‘Reply-To’ email address, but misusing the name of a different firm of solicitors.Is there a genuine firm or person?
Gilroy Steel Solicitors Ltd is a genuine law firm authorised and regulated by the SRA whose genuine web and email domain is '@gilroysteel.com'.
The genuine firm has confirmed it does have an employee called Amber Leggett whose genuine email address is 'amber.legget2@gilroysteel.com'.
The genuine firm have confirmed that they have no genuine or intended connection to the email 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.
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