Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Michael Singleton and Singleton Austin Ryder

18 September 2023

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Michael Singleton of Singleton Ryder Austin Solicitors, in relation to a supposed inheritance.

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from a genuine solicitor at a genuine firm (see below).  The email seen by the SRA was sent from the email address 'michael@singletonsuks.com' and advises the recipient that they are supposedly entitled to an unclaimed inheritance from the firm's deceased client, who is said to have had the same surname as the recipient.

Any business or transaction undertaken through the email address above is not undertaken by a genuine solicitor or firm.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Michael Singleton (SRA ID: 81414) who is a partner at the genuine firm of Singletons Austin Ryder. 

Singletons Austin Ryder has its genuine head office at 2 Crossfield Chambers, Gladbeck Way, Enfield, EN2 7HT, and the genuine email addresses of solicitors and staff at the firm use the domain name '@singletonsuk.com' (with no 's' at the very end of the domain name).

The genuine firm of Singletons Austin Ryder has confirmed that neither the firm nor the genuine solicitor, Michael Singleton, have any connection to 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.