Alerts

Warning: 'IBIS Solicitors' and 'IBIS Law firm and Escrows LLP'

4 August 2022

The website at 'www.ibislawandescrows.com' is operating claiming to be for a law firm called 'IBIS Solicitors' and 'IBIS Law firm and Escrows LLP'

What is the scam?

The website at 'www.ibislawandescrows.com' is operating claiming to be for a law firm called ‘IBIS Solicitors’ and ‘IBIS Law firm and Escrows LLP’.

The website provides two postal addresses in France, a telephone number of '+33 7555 21798' and an email address of ‘enquiries@ibislawandescrows.com.

The website seen by the SRA has misused the genuine SRA identification number and telephone contact number for a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The website also displays the SRA digital badge.

The SRA does not authorise and regulate firms of solicitors called ‘IBIS Solicitors’ or ‘IBIS Law firm and Escrows LLP’.

Any business or transaction through ‘IBIS Solicitors’ or ‘IBIS Law firm and Escrows LLP’ or any of the contact details stated above are not undertaken by a firm or 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 KBL Solicitors LLP, whose SRA number is 627254. Its genuine telephone number is 01204527777 and genuine emails from the  firm end with the domain '@kbl.co.uk'.

The genuine firm of KBL Solicitors LLP has confirmed that it has no connection to 'IBIS Solicitors', 'IBIS Law Firm and Escrows LLP' or the website 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.