Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Lisa Burton and Talbots Law Ltd

22 August 2024

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Lisa Burton and Talbots Law Ltd.

What is the scam?

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from an individual at a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The SRA understands that the emails were sent from the email address 'l.burton@talbotslaws.co.uk' and requested payment in relation to residential property transactions into an unconnected bank account.

It is understood that emails have also been sent from 'l.burton@tallbotslaw.co.uk', 'l.burton@talbotlaw.co.uk', and 'l.burton.talbotslaw.uk@mail.com'.

Some emails have also copied in the email address 'sidonieford@tallbotslaw.co.uk'.

Any business or transaction through 'l.burton@talbotslaws.co.uk', 'l.burton@tallbotslaw.co.uk', 'l.burton@talbotlaw.co.uk', 'l.burton.talbotslaw.uk@mail.com' and 'sidonieford@tallbotslaw.co.uk' is 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 Talbots Law Ltd trading as Talbots. The email domain used by the firm is '@talbotslaw.co.uk'.

Lisa Burton is a director in the firm's residential property team, and Sidonie Ford is a paralegal at the firm.

The genuine firm of Talbots Law Ltd has confirmed that neither the firm nor the genuine Lisa Burton or Sidonie Ford 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.