Alerts
Warning: Emails falsely claiming to be from Markand & Co Solicitors LLP
1 August 2024
Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Markand & Co Solicitors LLP, in relation to conveyancing transactions.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been advised that fraudulent emails have been sent, falsely claiming to be from Markand & Co Solicitors LLP.
Some of the bogus emails appear as if sent from the genuine email address of a trainee solicitor at the genuine firm (see below).
Bogus email addresses have also been used, either to send emails or to supposedly copy in solicitors at the firm. These bogus email addresses used the email domain “@markandsolicitorco.uk”. This domain is different to the domain used by the genuine firm (see below).
The emails requested payments in relation to the purchase of properties and provided payment details to an account linked to another company.
The emails misuse the name, contact details, SRA number and logo of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).
The emails also misuse the name of two solicitors and a trainee solicitor at the firm (see below).
Any business or transaction through the email addresses 'zainab@markandsolicitorco.uk', 'sheila@markandsolicitorco.uk' and 'gsbhaker@markandsolicitorco.uk' (or any email using the domain '@markandsolicitorco.uk') 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 genuine firm of solicitors called Markand & Co Solicitors LLP. Its genuine email domain ends in '@markandsolicitors.co.uk'.
Its address is 6-8 Woodford Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 0HA and its SRA ID is 572665. Its genuine website is http://markandsolicitors.co.uk.
The SRA authorises and regulates genuine solicitors called Gurdarshan Singh Bhaker and Sheila Gorsia, who are both partners in the genuine firm of Markand & Co Solicitors LLP.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine trainee solicitor called Zainab Khan, who is employed by the genuine firm Markand & Co Solicitors LLP.
The genuine firm Markand & Co Solicitors LLP has confirmed that neither the firm nor the genuine Zainab Khan, Gurdarshan Singh Bhaker and Sheila Gorsia have any genuine and intended 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.