Alerts

Warning: Telephone calls and emails misusing the name of Melanie Darr

2 August 2023

Telephone calls and emails have been made and sent to members of the public from an individual claiming to be Melanie Darr in relation to timeshare matters.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that telephone calls have been made to members of the public from an individual claiming to be Melanie Darr. The individual claimed to work for a company called Venture Compliance Limited. The calls relate to timeshare matters.  The calls were made from a telephone number 02039180741. Emails were sent from info@venturecompliance.co.uk.

Any business transaction through the telephone number 02039180741 or via the email address info@venturecompliance.co.uk. is not undertaken by a firm or individual regulated by the SRA. The SRA do not regulate or authorise a company called Venture Compliance Limited.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor  called Melanie Louise Darr who is an in-house solicitor at Computershare Loan Services (non-regulated entity). Her  SRA ID is 478983.

Melanie Louise Darr has confirmed she does not have any connection to the telephone calls and emails detailed above. She has no connection with the company Venture Compliance Limited.

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.