Alerts

Warning: Letter misusing the name of Paul Nicholls

19 October 2023

A letter has been sent misusing the name of Paul Nicholls

What is the scam?

A letter had been sent that falsely misuses the name of a genuine solicitor.

The letter seen by the SRA purports to be sent from a company called 'The Legal Advisory Service'. On the top centre of the document, it describes the company as '……… a litigant's friend' and refers to the company as legal consultants and business advice.

The footer of the document falsely claims that Paul Nicholls is a consultant for 'The Legal Advisory Service' (please see below).

Any business or transaction through 'The Legal Advisory Service' is 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 number of genuine solicitors called Paul Nicholls. It is believed that none of them have any genuine or intended connection to 'The Legal Advisory Service' 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.