Alerts

Warning: Correspondence from 'Community Solicitors' claiming to be from authorised individuals

23 December 2022

An individual purporting to be from 'Community Solicitors' has sent correspondences in relation to a loan agreement.

What is the scam?

An individual purporting to be from 'Community Solicitors' has sent correspondence in relation to a loan agreement.

The emails are understood to have been received from emails with the domain '@communitysolicitors.org' and some email signatures seen by the SRA misused the head office address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Community Solicitors', and no other authorised firms with names using the word 'Community' are registered with the address used.

Any such business or transaction through 'Community Solicitors' as referred to above, are not undertaken by an individual or firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm called Community Solicitors.

The SRA does regulate and authorise a genuine firm called Ada Solicitors, whose head office address is Suite F, Weller House, 58-60 Longbridge Road, Barking, IG11 8RT, England. The genuine firm have confirmed that they have no connection to the emails 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.