Alerts

Warning: Email and document from 'Peter Ronald Solicitors LLP'

29 April 2022

An email attaching a document has been sent to a member of the public claiming to be from 'Peter Lewis Ronald' of 'Peter Ronald Solicitors LLP'.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that an email has been sent to a member of the public claiming to be from 'Peter Lewis Ronald' of 'Peter Ronald Solicitors LLP'. The email seen by the SRA advises the recipient to make payment of fees so that the firm can act on the recipient's behalf to prepare legal documents. The email has attached to it a breakdown of fees. The address listed on the document is '11 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1BW ' and provides a DX address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below). The document provides a telephone number of '+44 7459 395866' and the email addresses, barristerpeteronald@consultant.com' and 'bar.peterronald@outlook.com'.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate Peter Ronald Solicitors LLP', nor does it authorise and regulate a solicitor called 'Peter Lewis Ronald'.

Any business or transaction through 'Peter Ronald Solicitors LLP', 'Peter Lewis Ronald', and the above postal address, telephone number and email addresses is 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 called Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP whose DX address is 407 Chancery Lane.

The genuine firm of Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP has confirmed that it does not have any connection to the email and document 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.