Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the name of Boulter and Co LLP
17 March 2023
Emails have been sent misusing the name of Boulter and Co LLP providing fraudulent bank account details.
What is the scam?
Emails have been sent to members of the public falsely claiming to be from 'Georgia Roberts' of 'Boulter and Co LLP' in relation to a conveyancing transaction.
Some of the emails seen by the SRA requested the recipient to transfer funds for the deposit and included an attachment which claims to be 'Boulter and Co Client Care Bank Details. This document gives fraudulent bank account details, together with a number of contact details for the genuine firm (see below).
The emails misuse the details of a genuine solicitor and a genuine firm of solicitors (see below)
Some of the emails were sent from the email address of 'g.roberts@buolterandco.com' and others appeared to have been sent from the email address 'g.roberts@boulterandco.com'. Some of the emails were also copied to the email address 'a.johannides@buolterandco.com'.
Any business or transactions done through the email domain of '@buolterandco.com' are 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 called Boulter and Co LLP. The firm's genuine email domain ends in @boulterandco.com. Its head office is based at 11-19 Park Road, London N8 8TE and has a branch office at River House, 90 Church Street, Enfield EN2 6AR.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Georgia Hawkins who is employed at Boulter and Co LLP. Ms Hawkins previous genuine email address was g.roberts@boulterandco.com but is now g.hawkins@boulterandco.com.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Andrew Joannides, who is a member of the genuine firm and whose genuine email address is a.joannides@boulterandco.com.
Boulter and Co LLP has confirmed that neither it, Georgia Hawkins nor Andrew Joannides has any connection to the emails referred to 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.