Alerts

Warning: Invoices have been sent misusing the name of Charles Ehret Grover

11 April 2022

Invoices have been sent misusing the name of Charles Ehret Grover

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that invoices have been sent from an individual claiming to be called Charles Ehret Grover in respect of investment from with a supposed organisation based in the UK. The invoices are for work done on legal documents to set up the supposed investment.

The invoices are titled 'Drafting and Notarization of Definitive Investment Agreement & Ancillary Document. The invoices provide bank account details for a bank based in UK in the account name of 'Lucy Chidi-Ceg'.

The invoices provide an email address of 'CEGrover@protonmail.com'.

The invoices misuse the name a genuine firm of solicitor (see below).

Any business or transactions through the above email is not undertaken by a solicitor's practice or an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA does authorise and regulate a genuine solicitor called Charles Ehret Grover.

The genuine Charles Ehret Grover has confirmed he has no connection to the invoices referred to in the alert above and no connection to an individual called 'Lucy Chidi-Ceg'. He has also confirmed he does not carry out any work involving probate.

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.