Alerts
Warning: Email misusing the name of Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors)
27 February 2024
An email has been sent to a client misusing the name of Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors)
What is the scam?
The SRA has been advised that an email has been sent purporting to be from a genuine firm of solicitors in relation to recovering funds from trading scams including Forex, CFDs and cryptocurrency.
The email was sent using an email address of 'info@cellsolicitors.co.uk' (which is very similar to the genuine firm's email address (see below)
The email misuses the name, address and website address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).
Any business or transactions through 'info@cellsolicitors.co.uk' 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 Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited trading as CEL whose address is 12th Floor, 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9AG. The telephone number is 01519098212. The website is www.celsolicitors.co.uk and the email domain used by the firm is @celsolicitors.co.uk (note the single 'l').
The genuine firm of Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited has confirmed that they do not have any connection with the email 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.
More information
Update 12 April 2024
The SRA has been informed that a further email has been sent to a member of the public using the email address of 'info@cellsolicitors.co.uk' in relation to recovering supposed funds from trading scams, Forex, CFDs and cryptocurrency. The SRA understands that the name of 'Jessica Hampson' was also cited to the member of the public.
The SRA authorities and regulates a genuine solicitor called Jessica Hampson who is the Director of the genuine firm Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited.
The genuine firm Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited and the genuine solicitor Jessica Hampson have confirmed that they do not have any connection with the email referred to in the above alert.