Alerts

Warning: Emails have been sent misusing the name of 'Peter Scholl'

29 September 2021

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Peter Scholl' at 'Peter Scholl Co. Solicitor'.

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from "Peter Scholl" at 'Peter Scholl Co. Solicitors'

The email seen by the SRA appears to have been sent from the email address ps@peterscholl.com with the subject line ‘Peter Scholl shared the folder "Peter Scholl Co. Solicitors" with you.’ The email contains a link entitled 'Peter Scholl Co. Solicitors'. A concern is that the link may contain malware.

The emails appear to misuse the genuine email address for a genuine solicitor (see below).

Any business or transactions through, the specific emails referred to above are not genuinely 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 solicitor called Peter Scholl whose email address is ps@peterscholl.com. The SRA also used to authorise and regulate a genuine for called Peter Scholl & Co until it ceased practising on 30 October 2019.

The genuine Peter Scholl has confirmed that he does 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.