Alerts
Warning: LinkedIn profile misusing the name of Brown Rudnick LLP
30 November 2021
LinkedIn profile misusing the name of Brown Rudnick LLP regarding a supposed inheritance.
What is the scam?
A LinkedIn message has been sent from an individual claiming to be called 'Barr Peter Anthony Bibby', claiming to be from 'Brown Rudnick LLP'. The message seen by the SRA refers to a purported inheritance of an previously unknown individual.
The message was sent using an email address 'informationoffice2917@mail.ru' and asks the recipient to respond to another email address of 'informationoffice@citromail.hu'.
The message misuses the name of a genuine firm of solicitors and the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).
Any business or transaction through the email addresses above, is not undertaken by an individual or firm authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Brown Rudnick LLP. The firm’s genuine emails end with the domain name @brownrudnick.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Peter Anthony Bibby who is a solicitor at the genuine Brown Rudnick LLP. His genuine email address is pbibby@brownrudnick.com
The genuine firm Brown Rudnick LLP and the genuine Peter Anthony Bibby have confirmed that they do not have any connection to the LinkedIn profile referred to in the alert 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.