Alerts

Warning: Website claiming to be for a law firm called Marvin & Pavel Associates

11 March 2022

The website at 'www.marvinpavelassociates.com' is claiming to be for a law firm called Marvin & Pavel Associates.

What is the scam?

The website 'www.marvinpavelassociates.com' is operating and claiming to be for a law firm called Marvin & Pavel Associates, with an address in Exeter, England.  It also provides supposed addresses in Spain, Portugal and Greece. The UK address provided is that of a genuine firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA (see below).

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Marvin & Pavel Associates’ and some of the ‘Attorney’ profiles listed on the website contain stock photographs which appear on unrelated websites.  

The website provides an email address of info@marvinpavelassociates.com and a main contact telephone number that is believed to be Portuguese.   

Any business or transaction through the above website, email address, or generally through ‘Marvin & Pavel Associates’ is not undertaken by a solicitor or firm authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Stephens Scown LLP, whose head office is Curzon House, Southernhay West, Exeter, EX1 1RS.  The firm has confirmed it occupies the entire building and has no genuine connection to the website referred 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.