Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Stilwell & Singleton LLP

25 May 2023

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Stilwell & Singleton LLP providing fraudulent bank account details.

What is the scam?

Emails have been spoofed to falsely claim to be from Stilwell & Singleton LLP in relation to conveyancing transactions.

The emails provided new bank account details requesting the recipients transfer funds to a 'completion trust account' rather than the usual bank account. The email footer misuses the name and contact details of the genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The emails falsely appear to be from a genuine email account (see below) but divert any replies to a bogus email address of 'polly@stillwellsingleton.co.uk'. Please note the double 'l' in the spelling of 'still'.

Any business or transactions through the email domain of 'polly@stillwellsingleton.co.uk' 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 Stilwell & Singleton LLP whose head office address is 110 Maison Dieu Road, Dover CT16 1RT. The genuine firm's branch address is 1-3 King Street, Sandwich, CT13 9BT. The firm's genuine email domains end in '@stilwellsingleton.co.uk'.

The firm has confirmed that they have a genuine employee with the email address 'polly@stilwellsingleton.co.uk'.

The firm has confirmed it has no genuine and intended 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.