Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Alcocks Solicitors Limited

8 September 2022

Emails have been sent misusing the names of Alcocks Solicitors Limited and Molly Anderson, providing fraudulent bank account details.

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent that falsely claimed to be from Molly Anderson of Alcocks Solicitors Limited, relating to a conveyancing transaction.

The emails seen by the SRA asked the recipients to transfer funds to facilitate the exchange of contracts in their conveyancing transaction and included an attachment falsely claiming to provide 'Alcocks Client Care Account Details'.

The emails appear to be sent from a genuine email address of an employee of a genuine firm and have misused the genuine firm’s contact details (see below).

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Alcocks Solicitors Limited (SRA ID 638279) whose office is located at Byron House, 2nd Floor, Commercial Street, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 1EE. The firm's genuine telephone number is 01623 460444 and its fax number is 01623 460445.

The genuine website for the firm is www.alcocks-solicitors.co.uk.

Molly Anderson is a genuine employee of Alcocks Solicitors Limited and her genuine email address is manderson@alcocks-solicitors.co.uk.

The genuine Molly Anderson and Alcocks Solicitors Limited have confirmed that they have no genuine and intended connection to the emails 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 (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.