Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Gibson Young Solicitors LLP

10 July 2022

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Shamila Palansuriya of Gibson Young Solicitors LLP, which may contain malware if opened.

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent to other firms of solicitors, falsely claiming to be from a solicitor at a genuine firm.

The email was sent using an email address of 'shamila.gibsonyoungsolicitors.co.uk@outlook.com'. The email is understood to provide documents via a file transfer service, that supposedly relate to a property transaction payment but may contain malware if opened.

The email misuses the name of a genuine firm of solicitors and a genuine solicitor (see below).

Any business or transactions through the email address 'shamila.gibsonyoungsolicitors.co.uk@outlook.com' is not undertaken by an individual or firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Gibson Young Solicitors LLP. The firm's email domain ends with @gibsonyoungsolicitors.com.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Shamila Palansuriya, who is a partner at Gibson Young Solicitors LLP.

The genuine firm of Gibson Young Solicitors LLP and Shamila Palansuriya have confirmed they have no genuine 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.