Alerts

Warning: Emails from 'Susan Dudley' misusing details for Ellis Jones Solicitors LLP

25 May 2022

Emails have been sent from 'Susan Dudley' misusing the details for Ellis Jones Solicitors LLP in relation to a 'Loan Delivery'.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen emails which purport to be from an individual claiming to be a solicitor named 'Susan Dudley' in relation to the 'delivery of a loan', where the recipient is asked to make payment for the loan to be delivered to them.

The emails seen by the SRA have been sent from the email address 'Susandudley2021@hotmail' and misuse the SRA number, company number and office address for a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a solicitor called Susan Dudley.

Any business or transactions through the email address 'Susandudley2021@hotmail' or someone claiming to be a solicitor named ‘Susan Dudley' 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 Ellis Jones Solicitors LLP, whose SRA ID is 512098 and whose company number is OC345296. The head office for the firm is based at Sandbourne House, 302 Charminster Road, Bournemouth, BH8 9RU.

The genuine firm Ellis Jones Solicitors LLP has confirmed that they have no genuine and intended connection to the emails referred to in the above alert and no individual by the name 'Susan Dudley' has ever been employed by the genuine firm.

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.