Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the name of Steven Kempster
28 January 2022
Emails have been sent misusing the name of Steven Kempster in respect of supposedly unclaimed inheritances.
What is the scam?
The SRA has seen emails received by members of the public claiming to have been sent by ‘Steven Kempster’. The emails relate to a supposedly unclaimed inheritance scam and misuse the name of a genuine solicitor and a separate genuine firm of solicitors (see below for details).
Emails seen by the SRA were sent from the following email addresses:
steven.kempsterr@outlook.com, barrdomipaulkenz@gmail.com, mackenziedbarr@gmail.com, thelegalcounseluk@gmail.com, thelegalarbitratorsuk@gmail.com and arbitrationcounseluk@gmail.com.
Some emails misdescribe the genuine solicitor as being “counsel with the firm BP Collins Solicitors LLP in Buckinghamshire London” (see below for genuine details). Some correspondence also misused the genuine solicitor’s photo.
Any business or transactions through the above email addresses 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 solicitor called Steven Kempster who is a Partner at Withers LLP. The genuine email address is steven.kempster@withersworldwide.com.
The genuine Steven Kempster has confirmed that he has no genuine or intended connection to the emails referred to in the above alert.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a firm called B P Collins LLP, whose head office is in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.
The genuine firm of B P Collins LLP has also confirmed that it does not have any genuine or intended connection to the emails referred to in the above scam 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.