Alerts

Warning: WhatsApp messages giving contact details for 'Yusef Al Hatim' and 'Yosef Al Hatem'

4 January 2022

A member of the public has received a WhatsApp message giving contact details of 'Yusef Al Hatim' and 'Yosef Al Hatem'

What is the scam?

A member of the public has received a WhatsApp message giving contact details of 'Yusef Al Hatim' and 'Yosef Al Hatem'. The message informs the recipient that their file will be transferred to 'Yusef Al Hatim' and gives a “license number' (see below).The messages seen by the SRA inform the recipient that 'Yusef Al Hatim' is a “legal advisor from the Cyber-crime Department' at “Reed smith' (see below).

The messages seen by the SRA provide contact numbers of '+442079939787', '+966115206445' ,'+447737635000' and '+4420367025520' ,website addresses of 'www.atlaslawyers.org', 'www.atlas-lawyer.org' and the following email addresses: 'info@atlaslawyers.org', 'Csatlaslawyers.org.','yosefalhatem@atlaslawyers.org' and 'yosefalhatem@lawyers-fx.com'. An address of “Broadgate tower, 20, primrose street, London, EC2A 2RS' is also provided (see below).

Any business or transaction through the above individual, contact numbers, website addresses and email addresses are not undertaken by a solicitor's practice authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Yousef Hatem (SRA ID:505269). Yousef Hatem is employed as an in-house solicitor at KPMG International.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm called Reed Smith LLP who has an office at Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2RS.

The genuine Yousef Hatem and Reed Smith LLP have confirmed that they do not have any genuine or intended connection to the WhatsApp messages referred to 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.