Alerts
Warning: Correspondence misusing the name and logo of Cardium Law Limited
8 December 2022
Correspondence misusing the name and logo of Cardium Law Limited, on documents purporting to help with the recovery of previously lost funds.
What is the scam?
A member of the public, based overseas, has received correspondence falsely claiming to have been signed by 'Terri Hattersley' of 'Cardium Law Limited'.
The documentation seen by the SRA misuses the name and logo of the genuine firm and a genuine solicitor (see below). It sets out a 'retainer' to help recover funds that have supposedly been held following an earlier judgment regarding another 'Block-chain' related scam. The documentation also then asks for various initial payments before next steps can supposedly be taken, for example to pay a 'Security Deposit'.
Some of the correspondence held various stamps or watermarks, for example stamps of 'GOV.UK' and 'Justice' and a watermark supposedly of 'The Law Society'. The letters also refer to the fee-earner as 'Attorney' and one letter refers to the firm as 'the Cardium Law Company'.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises a genuine firm of solicitors called Cardium Law Limited (SRA ID: 647506), which trades as Cardium Law.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Terri Hattersley, who was previously employed by Cardium Law Limited but moved to a different firm in August 2022 and is not believed to have any genuine connection to the correspondence referred to above.
The genuine firm of Cardium Law Limited has confirmed it has no genuine connection to the correspondence 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.