Alerts
Warning: Website and email claiming to be from 'Geoffrey Dearing Attorneys'
22 February 2022
Emails and the website 'www.gdearingattorneys.co.uk' claiming to be from a law firm called 'Geoffrey Dearing Attorneys'.
What is the scam?
The website 'www.gdearingattorneys.co.uk' is operating and falsely claiming to be a law firm called 'Geoffrey Dearing Attorneys'. The website provides a 'London Office UK' address of 1st and 2nd Floor Saxon Court, Annie Reed Road, Beverley HU17 0LF', a telephone number of '44 (752) 062-2937' and an email address of 'info@gdearingattorneys.co.uk'. The website also provides a supposed office address and contact details in New York.
The SRA is also aware that emails have been sent to a member of the public from an individual claiming to be a 'Managing Partner' at 'Geoffrey Dearing Attorneys'. The emails relate to a supposedly unclaimed inheritance of a deceased individual with the same surname as the recipient of the email. The email provides the same contact details as above and also another email address of 'gdearing@gdearingattorneys.co.uk' and a fax number of '+44 (872) 023-5393'.
The emails and website misuse the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).
Any business or transaction through the above website, email addresses or telephone / fax numbers is not undertaken by a solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA regulates a genuine (non-practising) solicitor called Geoffrey Dearing.
The genuine Geoffrey Dearing has confirmed he does not have any connection to the website or emails referred to in the alert above.
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.