Alerts

Warning: Email from Barr. Kennedy Bricks claiming to be from a law firm Kennedy Bricks in the UK

6 August 2023

Email received by member of the public lizwaud@optusnet.com.au claiming to be from a law firm Kennedy Bricks.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that an email has been received by a member of the public from an email address lizwaud@optusnet.com.au. The sender claims to be from a law firm called Kennedy Bricks who has an associate firm in the Ukraine called Werner Law.

The sender claims the owner of a company called Medston in Russia was murdered in March 2022 and this person had a deposit worth US$48 million. The sender invites the recipient to indicate interest.

The SRA does not regulate a firm of solicitors called Kennedy Bricks nor does it authorise a solicitor called Barr Kennedy Bricks.

The SRA does not authorise Werner Law.

Any business transaction through the email address detailed above, is not undertaken by a firm or an individual authorised by the SRA.

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.