Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Smalleys Solicitors Ltd

25 October 2023

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Smalleys Solicitors Ltd.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent that are falsely claiming to be from Smalleys Solicitors Ltd.

We understand that some emails have been sent from the email account lisa.thorpe@Smalleysolicitor.uk and request payment of funds. The genuine firm have confirmed the email address does not belong to their genuine Lisa Thorpe, and she did not send the emails (see below for genuine details).

We also understand that some other staff names at the firm may also have been spoofed. In this respect any emails received using the domain “@Smalleysolicitor.uk” do not derive from the genuine firm and at this stage caution should be exercised with email correspondence from the firm, particularly if it is requesting payment of funds or providing payment details.

Any business or transactions through the email domain ”@Smalleysolicitor.uk” , or any others purporting to be from Smalleys Solicitors from any domain except the firm’s genuine domain (see below) are not undertaken by an individual or firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Smalleys Solicitors Ltd (SRA ID: 639164).  The firm’s genuine email domain is "firstname.lastname@smalleyssolicitors.co.uk" (with the domain name having "ss" in the middle)

The SRA also regulates Lisa Thorpe (SRA ID: 834585), a Licensed Conveyancer who we understand is Head of Conveyancing at Smalleys Solicitors Ltd.

Mrs Thorpe’s genuine work email address is ‘lisa.thorpe@smalleyssolicitors.co.uk’.

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.