Alerts

Warning: Correspondence falsely claiming to be from 'Lombards Solicitors'

30 March 2023

An email has been sent from 'Lombards Solicitors' in relation to a supposed litigation in Spain.

What is the scam?

An email has been sent from an individual using the name 'Alan Burgess', claiming to be from the accounts department of 'Lombards Solicitors'.  The email and attached document relate to supposed group litigation in Spain, to recover money for the recipient.  The recipient was asked to make a payment, towards obtaining supposed compensation money.

The email was sent using an email address of 'alanburgess.lombard@accountant.com' and a contact number of '0207 097 1372' was provided. The email also provided and misused the address of a genuine firm of solicitors with a very similar name (see below).

The SRA has also been informed that other connected correspondence misused the name of a genuine solicitor at the genuine firm (see below).

Any business or transactions through the above email address and phone number 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 of solicitors called Lombards Law Limited (trading as Lombards). The firm's address is 32 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AY. The firm's telephone number is 0203 797 1264 and the firm email domain ends with @lombards.co.uk. The firm has confirmed it does not employ anyone called Alan Burgess.

The SRA also authorises and regulates several genuine solicitors called Peter Jones, including one who is a consultant at Lombards Law Limited.

Lombards Law Limited and the firm's genuine Peter Jones have confirmed that they do not have any connection to the documents or correspondence 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.