Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the name of Catherine McAllister and Addleshaw Goddard LLP
10 November 2023
Emails have been sent misusing the name of Catherine McAllister and Addleshaw Goddard LLP in relation to supposed unpaid invoices.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent from an individual called 'Catherine McAllister' claiming to be a 'Debt Collection Litigation Counsel' at a genuine firm of solicitors. The email refers to a supposed unpaid invoice and request prompt payment is made.
The emails misuse the name and registered address of a genuine firm of solicitors and the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).
The emails have been sent using the email addresses 'catherinemcallister@addleshawegoddard.com' (with an additional e inserted between 'Addleshaw' and 'Goddard' in the domain name) and 'catherinemcallister@addleshaewgoddard.com' (with an additional e inserted in 'Addleshaw'). The emails are very similar to the genuine firm email domain.
Any business or transaction through the email domain 'catherinemcallister@addleshawegoddard.com' or 'catherinemcallister@addleshaewgoddard.com' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a law firm authorised and regulated by the SRA and the Law Society of Scotland. The head office in England is based at Milton Gate, 60 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4AG.
The email domain of the firm ends with @addleshawgoddard.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Catherine McAllister who is a Partner at Addleshaw Goddard LLP London office.
The genuine firm of Addleshaw Goddard LLP and the genuine Catherine McAllister have confirmed that they do not have connection to the email domain '@addleshawegoddard.com'.
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.
More information
Update 28 November 2023
The SRA has been informed that further emails has been sent falsely claiming to be from Catherine McAllister and Addleshaw Goddard LLP in relation to supposed unpaid invoices.
The SRA understands that the email was sent using an email domain of
- 'addleshawgoddiard.com' (an added 'i' in Goddard); and
- addleshawgoddlard.com' (an added 'l' in Goddard).
- addlehawgoddard.com (no 's' in Addleshaw)
Any business or transaction through the email domain addresses 'addleshawgoddiard.com', 'addleshawgoddlard.com' and addlehawgoddard.com are not undertaken by a genuine solicitor authorised or regulated by the SRA.
Update 21 November 2023
The SRA has been informed that a further email has been sent falsely claiming to be from Catherine McAllister and Addleshaw Goddard LLP in relation to supposed unpaid invoices.
The SRA understands that the email was sent using an email domain of '@addleshaewgoddard.com' (an extra E in 'shaw').
The SRA has also been informed another email domain has been set up using the email domain '@addleshawagoddard.com' (an additional A between 'Addleshaw' and 'Goddard')
Any business or transaction through the email domain addresses'@addleshaewgoddard.com' and '@addleshawagoddard.com' are not undertaken by a genuine solicitor authorised or regulated by the SRA.