Alerts

Warning: Messages falsely claiming to be from 'Stephanie Caird' of Mills & Reeve LLP

2 February 2023

Messages have been sent to various companies falsely claiming to be from 'Stephanie Caird' of Mills & Reeve LLP.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that messages have been sent to various companies claiming to be from 'Stephanie Caird' of Mills & Reeve LLP, misusing her genuine email address (see below). 

The SRA has also been advised that one message purportedly from 'Stephanie Caird' was submitted via the website of a company.

The messages seen by the SRA advise the recipients that the supposed 'Stephanie Card' is writing on behalf of a company in the capacity 'as the head of the PR and marketing department'. The messages refer to misuse of trademarks for commercial benefit, and request that the 'trademarks and copyrighted content' is 'duly removed'.  The messages are signed off from 'Tessa Catchpole', 'Tosha Manley', and 'Rhoda Dooley'.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate solicitors called 'Tessa Catchpole', 'Tosha Manley', or 'Rhoda Dooley'.

Any business or transaction through the individuals 'Tessa Catchpole', 'Tosha Manley' or 'Rhoda Dooley' is not undertaken by an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises a genuine firm of solicitors called Mills & Reeve LLP.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Stephanie Caird, who is a Principal Associate at Mills & Reeve LLP. Her genuine email address is Stephanie.Caird@mills-reeve.com.

Both the genuine firm and Stephanie Caird have confirmed they have no intended connection to the messages 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.