Alerts
Warning: Letter misusing the name of Solicitors Litigation Services Limited
25 September 2022
A letter has been sent misusing the name of 'Solicitors Litigation Services Limited' in relation to a 'formal purchase proposal' in respect of holdings.
What is the scam?
A letter has been sent misusing the name of Solicitors Litigation Services Limited in relation to a supposed formal purchase proposal holding.
The letter misuses the address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below). It also misuses the name of a subsidiary company of that genuine firm of solicitors (see below).
The letter also provides a telephone number of '0207 043 3777'.The SRA has also been advised that there is also an active website operating at 'www.solicitorslitigationservices.com'.
Any business or transactions through the telephone number '0207 043 3777' and website 'www.solicitorslitigationservices.com' is not undertaken by an individual or firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Wake Smith Solicitors Limited, whose genuine address is No.1 Velocity, 2 Tenter Street, Sheffield, England, S1 4BY and whose genuine telephone number is 0114 266 6660. They are the owners of the dormant company called Solicitors Litigation Services Limited (Company no: 05323317) which is also registered at No.1 Velocity, 2 Tenter Street, Sheffield, England, S1 4BY.
Wake Smith Solicitors Limited has confirmed they have no connection to the letter or website referred to in the alert 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
The SRA has been informed that other members of the public have continued to receive letters and emails misusing the name of 'Solicitors Litigation Services Limited'. The correspondence still relates to a supposed 'formal purchase proposal', to purportedly buy from the recipient an investment or loan they held with another company.
The letter seen by the SRA also misuses the name of 'John Baddeley' and states that the 'purchase proposal' is only valid for 5 days and should be signed and returned for acceptance.
The email states that photographic ID and proof of address should be provided to accept the proposal. The email was sent using an email address of 'admin@solicitorslitigationservices.com' and provides a further email address of 'enquiries@solicitorslitigationservices.com'. The letters and email also misuse the same genuine address details as reported in the above scam alert.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA does regulate and authorise a genuine solicitor called John Baddeley who is a Director of the genuine firm of Wake Smith Solicitors Limited and also the Director of the genuine dormant company called Solicitors Litigation Services Limited.
The genuine John Baddeley has confirmed he has no connection to the letters or other correspondence referred to in this alert.