Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name Capsticks LLP

26 October 2023

Emails have been sent misusing both the name “Capsticks LLP” which is a trading name of Capsticks Solicitors LLP and Carmina Patience in relation to unpaid invoices.

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent to members of the public falsely claiming to be from ‘Carmina Patience’ at Capsticks LLP.

The email seen by the SRA is a chaser email sent to the recipient and requests the recipient to pay an unpaid invoice. The emails misuse the name of a genuine solicitor and were sent using the email domain of '@cappsticks.com' (see below).

The emails misuse the trading name and registered address of a genuine firm of solicitors and the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).

Any business or transaction undertaken through the email domain of ‘@cappsticks.com’ is not undertaken by a genuine solicitor or firm.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Capsticks Solicitors LLP, whose trading name is Capsticks LLP. The genuine firm’s head office address is 1 St. Georges Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 4DR.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Carmina Patience, who is an employee at the genuine firm.

The genuine firm has confirmed that neither it nor the genuine Carmina Patience have any connection with 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 (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.