Alerts

Warning: Emails have been sent misusing the name of 'Clive Bennett' and 'Alpine Law'

12 October 2021

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Clive Bennett' of 'Alpine Law Ltd'.

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Clive Bennett' of Alpine Law Ltd'.

One of the emails seen by the SRA appears to have been sent from the email address of a genuine individual (see below). This email invites the recipient to click on a link entitled 'Preview Files Here'.

The second email claims to have been sent from 'Clive Bennett' but appears to have been sent by Pablo Codesio from the email address pablo.c@rsh-p.com. This email has the subject line 'Clive Bennett Shared 'Alpine Law Ltd' With You' and contains a link entitled 'ACCESS Alpine Law Document'.

A concern is that these links may contain malware.

Any business or transactions through pablo.c@rsh-p.com are not undertaken by a solicitor's practice authorised and regulated by the SRA, or by an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Alpine Law Limited. The firm has a genuine director called Clive Bennett whose genuine email address is Clive.Bennett@alpinelaw.co.uk.

The genuine firm of Alpine Law Limited and the genuine Clive Bennett have confirmed that they do not have any genuine or intended connection to the emails referred to in the above alert.

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.