Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Carl Bowen of Clyde & Co LLP

19 April 2022

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Carl Bowen of Clyde & Co LLP in relation to supposedly unpaid invoices.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent from an individual misusing the name of a genuine staff member and the registered postal address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below). The email relates to supposedly outstanding invoices.

The email seen by the SRA has the heading 'Unpaid Invoice – 4475905' and asks the recipient to 'kindly reply to this email asap and have the invoice paid'. The SRA has also been advised that the emails have been sent using the email addresses of 'carl.bowen@clydesco.com' or 'carl.bowen@clydesnco.com'.

The SRA understands the emails have been sent in English, German and Swedish.

Any business or transactions through the email address of 'carl.bowen@clydesco.com' or 'carl.bowen@clydesnco.com' 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 firm of solicitors called Clyde & Co LLP. The registered office for the genuine firm is at The St Botolph Building 138 Houndsditch London EC3A 7AR.

The genuine firm has confirmed that it employs a staff member called Carl Bowen within their finance department. His genuine email address is carl.bowen@clydeco.com.

Clyde & Co LLP has confirmed they have no connection to the emails 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.