Alerts

Warning: Document misusing old letterhead of Levi Solicitors LLP

30 November 2022

A document regarding a supposed change of leaseholder has been sent to an energy company, purporting to be from Levi Solicitors LLP.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that correspondence has been sent to an energy company, falsely purporting to be from 'Navjit Degun' of 'Levi Solicitors LLP' (see below for genuine details).  The letter purports to confirm that an individual has taken over a leasehold of a property.

The document uses an old letterhead of a genuine firm, and the genuine details of the firm (see below).

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm called Levi Solicitors LLP (SRA ID: 440411).  The firm’s head office is at 33 St Pauls Street, Leeds, LS1 2JJ, with a contact number of 0113 244 9931 and a website of www.levisolicitors.co.uk.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Navjit Degun, who is a solicitor at Levi Solicitors.

The genuine firm of Levi Solicitors LLP has confirmed that neither the firm nor their Navjit Degun has any genuine connection with the document referred to in the above alert.   The firm have confirmed that the logo on their current letters now appears on the right-hand side and no longer has a black oval around the name of the 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.