Alerts

Warning: Website for Commonwealth Recovery claiming to be a law firm

2 March 2023

Websites for 'Commonwealth Recovery' is operating and claiming to be for a firm of solicitors.

What is the scam?

The website at 'www.commonwealthrecovery.org' is operating and falsely claiming to be for a firm of solicitors called 'Commonwealth Recovery'.

The website provides telephone numbers of '0161 804 610' and '020 4577 0819'.

The website misuses the name, address, and SRA ID of a genuine firm of solicitors. The website falsely claims that 'Commonwealth Recovery' is a trading name of the genuine solicitors (see below).

The website also misuses the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).

The SRA understands that a member of the public was informed by 'Commonwealth Recovery' that they would be able to recover funds for him however, he would have to pay 5% to 'Commonwealth Recovery' and that they both need to be online at the same time when the funds is being recovered.

Any business or transaction through 'Commonwealth Recovery' is not undertaken by a firm of solicitors 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 Hall Brown Ltd based at Ship Canal House 98 King Street Manchester M2 4WU. The telephone number is 01618047000. The firm SRA ID is 627248.

The SRA authorises and regulates a couple of solicitors called Andrew Newman; it is believed none of the genuine Andrew Newman are connected to the website.

Hall Brown Ltd have confirmed they do not have any connection to the website 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 (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.