Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Dickins Hopgood Chidley LLP

26 June 2023

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Dickins Hopgood Chidley LLP providing fraudulent bank account details.

What is the scam?

Members of the public have received emails that falsely claim to be from a solicitor, Emily Payne, using the email address 'e.payne@dhc-solicitors.com'. The emails misuse the name of a genuine solicitor and firm of solicitors (see below).

The SRA has been advised that the emails purporting to be sent from the firm seek to direct the recipient to send payments for property transactions to a fraudulent bank account.

Any business or transactions through an email address with the domain '@dhc-solicitors.com' 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 Dickins Hopgood Chidley LLP, whose address is The Old School House, 42 High Street, Hungerford, RG17 0NF.

Genuine emails from Dickins Hopgood Chidley LLP use the domain '@dhc-solicitors.co.uk'.

The genuine firm of solicitors Dickins Hopgood Chidley LLP has confirmed that neither the firm nor any of its solicitors have any genuine connection to the emails referred to in the alert above.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Emily Payne (SRA ID: 336956) who has confirmed that she does not have any connection to the emails 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.