Alerts
Warning: Website for 'BITS PS LTD' claiming to be a law firm
20 September 2022
The website at 'www.bitspsltd.co.uk' has been operating falsely claiming to be a law firm in London called 'BITS PS LTD'.
What is the scam?
The website at 'www.bitspsltd.co.uk' has been operating falsely claiming to be a law firm called 'BITS PS LTD'.
The website provides postal addresses of 'Lochranza Perivale Lane, Perivale, Greenford, United Kingdom UB6 8TW' and '9 Mansfield Street London W1G 9NY'.
The website provides several email addresses ending in'@bitspsltd.co.uk'.
The website misuses the names and/or photographs of several genuine solicitors (see below).
The SRA has also seen an email sent from an individual using the name 'Neill Blundell' and claiming to a lawyer at 'BITS PS LTD'. The email asks that the recipient confirm if they have received payment in relation to a 'Class Action Case'.
The email was sent using an email address of 'n.blundell@bitspsltd.co.uk'. The email misuses the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).
The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called 'BITS PS LTD'.
Any business or transaction through the above contact details are not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a solicitor called Neill Blundell, who is a Partner at a firm of solicitors called MacFarlanes LLP. Mr Blundell’s genuine email domain ends with @macfarlanes.com.
Mr Blundell has confirmed he does not have any connection to the email or website referred to in the alert above.
The SRA also authorises and regulates solicitors called Robert Taylor, Robert Smith, Catherine Palmer, Oliver Williams, John Daghlian and Julian Chamberlayne. None of the genuine solicitors are believed to have any genuine or intended connection to the website 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.
More information
Update - 10 October 2022
The website referred to in the above alert is still operating, and the SRA has been notified that an email was sent from an individual using the name 'Robert Taylor' and claiming to work at 'BITS PS LTD'.
The SRA understands that the recipient is asked in the email to make a payment to the 'EU's Commission Tax Department' in relation to a supposedly successful 'lawsuit case'.
Any correspondence or transactions undertaken through 'BITS PS LTD', or emails using the email domain '@bitspsltd.co.uk', is not undertaken by an authorised solicitors' practice.
The SRA authorises and regulates numerous genuine solicitors called Robert Taylor, including one who is a Partner at a genuine firm of solicitors called Gunnercooke LLP and whose photograph is being misused on the website referred to in the above alert. His genuine email address is robert.taylor@gunnercooke.com.
The genuine Robert Taylor has confirmed he has no genuine connection to the website or emails referred to in the above alert.