Alerts

Warning: Emails and phone calls falsely claiming to be from Hilary Almond of Adam Douglas Legal LLP

22 June 2022

Emails and phone calls misusing the name of Hilary Almond of Adam Douglas Legal LLP requesting transfer of funds.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that emails and phone calls have been made to a client, falsely claiming to be from Hilary Almond of Adam Douglas Legal LLP.

The emails seen by the SRA misuse the name of the genuine solicitor and firm details (see below) and request the transfer of funds. The emails are understood to have been 'spoofed' to appear as if sent from a genuine email address, but to be sending replies to the email address 'hilary@adamsdouglas.co.uk' (with an additional “s” in the middle of the domain name). The email also misuses the contact details for a previous branch office of the genuine firm (see below).

Any business or transaction through the above email address is not undertaken by a 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 Adam Douglas Legal LLP. Its head office is at Market Place, Alnwick, NE66 1HP and it previously had a genuine branch office address of 49-51 Bridge Street, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, TD15 1ES. Its head office telephone number is 01665 602363

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Hilary Almond who is a Partner at Adam Douglas Legal LLP. The genuine email addresses for Hilary Almond are hilary@adamdouglas.co.uk or hja@adamdouglas.co.uk.

The genuine firm has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Hilary Almond have any genuine or intended connection to the emails or phone calls 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.