Alerts
Warning: Emails have been sent misusing the name of Heringtons LLP
4 February 2022
Emails have been sent misusing the name of Heringtons LLP in respect of a supposedly unclaimed inheritance.
What is the scam?
Emails have been received by members of the public from an individual claiming to be called 'Thomas Johnson' a 'Senior Associate' at 'Heringtons Solicitors'. In some of the emails seen by the SRA the sender also claims to be employed at 'Morrison Solicitors'. the emails seen by the SRA claim to relate to a supposedly unclaimed inheritance, sometimes from someone with the same surname as the recipient of the emails.
The SRA has been advised that the emails have been sent from the following email addresses:
- 'ThomasJonsonsolicitor@outlook.com'
- 'ThomasJonson@outlook.com'
- 'tomjohnsonllp1@gmail.com'
- 'tomjohnsonllp9@gmail.com'
- 'thomasfirms08@gmail.com'
- 'thomasj.johnsolicitor12@gmail.com'
- 'simonlawfirm004@gmail.com'
The emails also give the telephone contact number of '+447418349001' and also the address of a genuine firm of solicitors.
Any business or transactions through the above email addresses and telephone number are not undertaken by a firm 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 Heringtons LLP trading as Heringtons Solicitors. The genuine firm office has an office at Bank Chambers, 80 High Street Rye TN31 7JR.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Morr & Co LLP trading as Morrison Solicitors.
The SRA authorises and regulates a number of genuine solicitors called Thomas Johnson, one of whom is employed as a Solicitor at Heringtons LLP. His genuine telephone number is 01797 222955 and his genuine email address is ‘Tom.Johnson@heringtons.com’.
The genuine Heringtons LLP, Morr & Co LLP and Thomas Johnson employed at Heringtons 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.
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More information
Update 8 July 2022
The SRA has been informed that further emails have been sent to individuals involving the same scams details above, but being sent from the email address 'simonlawfirm87@outlook.com'. Any business or transaction through this email address is not undertaken by a solicitors’ practice authorised and regulated by the SRA.