Alerts

Warning: Telephone calls misusing the name of Vestra Lawyers

31 October 2023

Telephone calls misusing the name of Vestra Lawyers in relation to an immigration matter and requested payment.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that a member of the public had been contacted by an individual purporting to be an 'Antonio Alonso Daroca' at Vestra Lawyers. The individual requested payment in relation to a Certificate of Sponsorship and provided bank account details. The telephone call was made from '07467 381328'and misused a genuine firm of solicitors (please see below).

Members of the public were also contacted by an individual purporting to be from Vestra Lawyers. The telephone calls were made from '07495 029893' and '07768 748755'.

The SRA have also seen a WhatsApp message requesting the member of the public to make a payment to Mr Antonio Alonso Daroca's bank account and misuses the genuine firm's address (please see below) and refers to a “Suzanne Southgate (Associate immigration consultant)”.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate genuine individuals called Antonio Alonso Daroca or Suzanne Southgate.

Any business or transaction through the above telephone numbers are not undertaken by a solicitors' practice or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Vestra Lawyers Ltd, whose trading name is Vestra Lawyers. The genuine firm’s address is Quadrant Court, 51-52 Calthorpe Road, Birmingham B15 1TH.

The genuine firm confirmed that it has no connection to the telephone numbers nor the individuals 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.