Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Price & Son Limited

20 July 2023

Clients have been contacted, requesting money be sent to an alternative bank account.

What is the scam?

Individuals have been contacted by someone falsely claiming to be solicitor, Stephen Hill, requesting they send payments for property transactions to a fraudulent bank account.

An email seen by the SRA used the address 'mail@priceandson.co-uk.net' and misuses the name of a genuine solicitor and firm of solicitors (see below).

Any business or transactions through an email address with the domain 'mail@priceandson.co-uk.net' 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 Price & Son Limited whose address is 33 Hill Lane, Haverfordwest, Dyfed, SA61 1PS. Genuine emails from Price & Son Limited use the domain '@priceandson.co.uk'.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Stephen Hill (SRA ID: 120003).

The genuine firm of solicitors Price & Son Limited has confirmed that neither it nor any of its solicitors have any genuine connection to the emails 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 (eg. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.