Alerts

Warning: Document misusing the name of CEL Solicitors

4 November 2022

A document has been sent by 'Vincenzo Ventura' falsely claiming to be from Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors).

What is the scam?

A document has been sent from an individual called 'Vincenzo Ventura' falsely claiming to be an Advocate from 'CEL Solicitors'. The document seen by the SRA is in Italian and is understood to be a draft contract to supposedly instruct 'Vincenzo Ventura' in relation to disputes arising from online trading or investments.

The document provides a telephone number of '+44 73778941216' and misuses the trading name and contact details of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The SRA does not authorise and regulate a solicitor called 'Vincenzo Ventura'.

The SRA understands that the document was sent using an email address of 'vincenzo.ventura.br@outlook.com' and that another telephone contact number of '+39 06 9977 9736' was also provided.

Any business or transactions through the above contact details are not undertaken by a firm or 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 Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited, which trades as CEL Solicitors.

The firm's genuine address is 12th Floor, 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool L3 9AG. The firm has a central telephone number of 01519098212 and the website www.celsolicitors.co.uk. The firm's genuine email domain ends with @celsolicitors.co.uk.

Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited has confirmed that they do not have any connection to the document and correspondence 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 (eg. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.