Alerts

Warning: Emails and Document misusing the name and details for 'RLS Law LLP'

18 May 2022

Emails have been sent claiming to be from 'RLS Law LLP', attaching a contract in relation to the recovery of 'stolen funds'

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent claiming to be from "RLS Law LLP", attaching a contract in relation to the recovery of 'stolen funds'

The SRA has been advised that an email has been sent from the email address 'info-@rls-ltd.com' attaching a contract written in Russian. The contract referred to the recovery of 'stolen funds' whereby the payment is based only on the amounts recovered. It also asks the recipient to transfer monies in Bitcoin in respect of tax required to retrieve the money owing to them.

The correspondence seen by the SRA misuses the name, address and company number for a now closed genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The correspondence also misuses the address; telephone number and company number for a genuine firm of solicitors (genuine firm, see below)

The contract seen by the SRA, misuses the name 'RLS Law LLP' and claims to be signed by 'Mr Julien Bernard Rutler' and 'Piotr Stasinski'. The contract is also 'stamped' with the company number for the genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a solicitor called Piotr Stasinski.

Any business or transactions through the email address 'info-@rls-ltd.com' or an individual named 'Piotr Stasinski' 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 authorised and regulated a genuine firm of solicitors called RLS Law LLP which ceased trading on 30 September 2014. The firm was based at 19a Floral Street, London, WC2E 9DS. The company number for RLS Law LLP is OC370067.

The SRA currently authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called RLS Solicitors Limited, who acquired RLS Law LLP on 1 October 2014.

The head office for RLS Solicitors Ltd is at Suite 30-33, The Hop Exchange, 24 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TY and its telephone number is 02039896221. Emails from the genuine firm end with the domain address ‘@rlslaw.co.uk'

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor named Julien Rutler (SRA ID: 171970), who is a director at the genuine firm, RLS Solicitors Limited.

The genuine firm RLS Solicitors Limited and the genuine solicitor Julien Rutler have confirmed that they have no genuine and intended connection to the alert referred to above.

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.