Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP

23 August 2022

An email has been sent misusing the name of Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP requesting information from the recipient.

What is the scam?

The SRA understands that an email has been sent from 'Benjamin Edward Archer', falsely claiming to be a Senior Barrister at 'Peters & Peters'.

The email seen by the SRA was sent from the email address: 'benjamin.edward.archer@protonmail.com' and requests from the recipient, documented transaction information in relation to 'Fraud Offshore Companies and Individuals'. It further requests proof of identity documents.

The email misuses the name, head office address, website address and telephone number of the genuine firm (see below). It also gives a further email address of 'benajmin.edward.archer@pm.me'.

The SRA does not authorise and regulate anyone called 'Benjamin Edward Archer'.

Any business or transactions through 'Benjamin Edward Archer', or the email addresses 'benjamin.edward.archer@protonmail.com' or 'benajmin.edward.archer@pm.me' are not undertaken by an individual or firm authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP whose head office is based at 15 Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1BW. Its genuine telephone number is 0207 822 7777 and website address is www.petersandpeters.com.

The genuine firm of Peters and Peters Solicitors LLP has confirmed that it does not employ anyone called Benjamin Archer, and it has no connection to the email 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.