Alerts

Warning: Email sent misusing the name of 'Karen Grimshaw' of 'Martin-Kaye LLP'

13 December 2022

Email falsely claiming to be from 'Karen Grimshaw' of 'Martin-Kaye LLP'

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that an email has been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Karen Grimshaw' of 'Martin-Kaye LLP' using the email address '1829996@gmail.com'. The email requested payment of 10% deposit in connection with a property transaction.

Any business or transactions through the email address '1829996@gmail.com' is not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or an individual authorised or regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called 'Martin-Kaye LLP'. The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called 'Karen Grimshaw', whose genuine email address is 'karengrimshaw@martinkaye.co.uk'.

The genuine firm Martin-Kaye LLP has confirmed that neither the firm nor the genuine Karen Grimshaw has 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.