Alerts
Warning: WhatsApp messages from 'Yasmeen Ghali' and Documents stamped by 'Dr Zeyad Mansour'; misusing the name DLA Piper
11 May 2022
Certain documents, purporting to be proofs of identity or other legal documents, have been stamped by 'Dr Zeyad Mansour' misusing the name of 'DLA Piper'. WhatsApp messages are sent from an individual named 'Yasmeen Ghali'
What is the scam?
The SRA has been advised that WhatsApp messages and telephone calls were made from an individual claiming to be 'Yasmeen Ghali' (genuine solicitor, see below) referring to herself as a 'lawyer' at DLA Piper London UK.
Documents including court documents, Barclays bank papers, Finma papers, Bank of America papers, and DLA Piper London UK invoices, relating to the same matters, appear to be stamped by an individual named 'Zeyad Mansour' providing and ADV No: 03312876 and is referred to as a 'Lawyer International'.
The SRA is informed that WhatsApp messages were sent from '+447704375613' and '+447704962476' and telephone calls were made from '+442038851617' and '+442038077991'.
Documents also appear to misuse the name and SRA ID for DLA Piper London UK (see below)
Any business or transaction through the above contact numbers or by the name 'Zeyad Mansour' are not undertaken by a solicitor or solicitor's practice authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called DLA Piper UK LLP (SRA ID: 401322). The firm has a head office address of 160 Aldersgate Street, London,
EC1A 4HT. The genuine telephone number for the firm is 02073490296.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Yasmeen Ghali (SRA ID: 531108). Miss Ghali is not employed by DLA Piper UK LLP.
The genuine firm of DLA Piper UK LLP is not believed to have any connection to the above alert and the genuine solicitor Yasmeen Ghali has confirmed that she has no connection 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.
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