Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Lifetime Wills and Trusts Limited

28 May 2021

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Lifetime Wills and Trusts Limited in respect of a conveyancing transaction.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that a member of the public has received emails and telephone calls falsely claiming to be from Chelsea Meachen of Lifetime Wills and Trusts Limited in respect of a conveyancing transaction.

The emails seen by the SRA appears to be sent from a genuine email address associated with the firm (see below), however it gave the 'Reply-To' email address of 'chelsea.maechen@lifetimesolicitors.co.uk', swapping the letters 'A' and 'E' in Meachen.

The SRA has been advised that the sender of the emails, created a bank account with a name similar to that of the genuine firm, and also contacted the recipient of the emails pretending to be the genuine firm by masking the telephone number with that of the genuine firm (see below).

Is there a genuine firm or person?

Lifetime Wills and Trusts Limited is a genuine law firm authorised and regulated by the SRA. It’s genuine telephone number is 03332417675.

The genuine firm has an employee called Chelsea Meachen whose genuine email is chelsea.meachen@lifetimesolicitors.co.uk

Who has confirmed that she has no connection to the communications referred to above.

The genuine firm and the genuine Chelsea Meachen have confirmed that they have no genuine or intended connection to the emails or telephone call 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.