Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the name of David Engel and Addleshaw Goddard LLP
10 November 2023
Emails have been sent misusing the name of David Engel and Addleshaw Goddard LLP in relation to a supposed inheritance.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent from an individual called 'David Engel' claiming to be a 'sole legal counsel' and 'Partners, Dispute Resolution' at a genuine firm of solicitors. The email refers to a supposed deceased person and states they are looking for a recipient for a 'monetary resource'.
The email was sent using an email address of 'davidengelAdd@hotmail.com'.
The email misuses the name and registered address of a genuine firm of solicitors and the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).
Any business or transaction through the email domain 'davidengelAdd@hotmail.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.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP has an office in Scotland at 1st Floor North, Kingshill View, Prime Four Business Park, Aberdeen AB15 8PU.
The email domain of the firm ends with @addleshawgoddard.com.
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called David Engel who is a Partner at Addleshaw Goddard LLP London office.
The genuine firm of Addleshaw Goddard LLP and the genuine David Engel have confirmed that they do not have connection to the email domain ‘davidengelAdd@hotmail.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.