Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the names of Timothy Brentnall and Elborne Mitchell LLP
3 July 2022
Emails have been sent misusing the name 'Timothy Brentnall' and 'Elborne Mitchell LLP' regarding a supposedly unclaimed inheritance.
What is the scam?
Emails have been sent purporting to be from 'Timothy Brentnall' regarding a supposedly unclaimed inheritance of an unknown relative.
Emails seen by the SRA appear to have been sent from the email addresses 'timbrentnallsol@outlook.com' and 'brentinalltiim@gmail.com'. We have also been informed of similar emails being sent from 'timbrentnall13@gmail.com'. These emails misuse the name of a genuine solicitor, and some also misuse his firm’s genuine office address (see below).
The SRA has also been made aware of emails being sent from 'conveyancer@elbornes.co.uk', purporting to be from Elborne Mitchell LLP (see below). We understand the email asks the recipient to follow a link, the concern being it may contain a malware link if opened.
Any business or transactions through the email addresses set out above are not undertaken by an authorised solicitor's practice or by an 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 Elborne Mitchell LLP (SRA number 561469), which has a head office at 60 Gresham Street London EC2V 7BB. The firm's genuine primary email address is lawyers@elbornes.com.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor named Timothy Brentnall who is a partner at Elborne Mitchell LLP. His genuine email address is brentnall@elbornes.com
Elborne Mitchell LLP and the genuine Timothy Brentnall 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 (eg. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.
More information
8 March 2023
Similar emails to those referred to in the above alert have recently been sent to a member of the public again misusing the name of the genuine solicitor and offering a supposed link to an inheritance from an unknown relative.
We are informed that in the recent correspondence the email addresses 'timbrentnalls@gmail.com' and 'timbrentnallsol@outlook.com' were used and supposed proof of funds from a UK bank was provided.
Any business or transaction through the email addresses 'timbrentnalls@gmail.com' or 'timbrentnallsol@outlook.com' is not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.