Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name and details of JMW Solicitors LLP

24 January 2023

An email has been sent from 'Hudson Albert' regarding a potential investment, misusing the name and details of JMW Solicitors LLP.

What is the scam?

An email has been sent to a member of the public falsely claiming to be from a genuine firm (see below) regarding a supposed investment.

The email seen by the SRA is from ‘Mr. Hudson Albert’ and requests the recipient consider a supposed investment proposal from a purported client. 

The email from 'Mr. Hudson Albert' appears to be sent from the email address 'usmilitarybasesyriadept09@gmail.com' but with a 'Reply-To' email address of 'hudsonalbert@jmwsolicitor.org'.

The sender falsely claims to be the 'Managing Partner' of the genuine firm and misuses the genuine firm's branch office address (see below).

Any business or transaction through 'Mr. Hudson Albert' or the email addresses 'usmilitarybasesyriadept09@gmail.com' or 'hudsonalbert@jmwsolicitor.org' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called JMW Solicitors LLP. The genuine firm has a London branch office address of Kings House, 36-37 King Street, London, EC2V 8BB. All emails from JMW Solicitors LLP end with the domain name '@jmw.co.uk'.

The genuine firm of JMW Solicitors LLP has confirmed that it has no connection to the email 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 (eg. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.