Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Chrismas Ogden Solicitors Limited

9 December 2022

An email has been sent falsely claiming to be from Nicholas Warde of Chrismas Ogden, providing supposedly new bank account details.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that an email has been sent falsely claiming to be from  'Nicholas Warde' of 'Chrismas Ogden Solicitors Limited' (see below for genuine details), providing supposedly new payment details in relation to a conveyancing transaction.

The email seen by the SRA appears to be sent from the email address 'nick@christmasogden.co.uk' (note the 't' in 'christmas') and asks the recipient to transfer money to an account supposedly belonging to 'Iordache C Christmasogen'. The email footer provides a contact number of '01273 474591' but otherwise misuses the genuine address and contact details for the firm (see below).

Any business or transactions through the email address 'nick@christmasogden.co.uk' or the contact number '01273 474591' is not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Chrismas Ogden Solicitors Limited (SRA ID: 566845). Its genuine postal address is Suite 1, 23 East Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2LJ. The genuine contact number for the firm is 01273 474159 and the fax number is 01273 477693.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Nicholas Warde who is a consultant solicitor at Chrismas Ogden Solicitors Limited. His genuine email address is Nick@Chrismasogden.co.uk.

The genuine firm of Chrismas Ogden Solicitors Limited has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Nicholas Warde have any 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.