Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Thomas Bohm and CMS LLP

1 February 2024

An email has been sent claiming to be from a lawyer by the name of Thomas Bohm of CMS LLP in relation to recovering lost cryptocurrency funds.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that an email has been sent falsely claiming to be from Thomas Bohm of CMS LLP (please see below). The email offers to help recover lost cryptocurrency funds.

The email was sent from 'david.holst.eo@gmail.com'

Any business or transactions through 'david.holst.eo@gmail.com' 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 CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP. It is an international law firm with a head office at Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London, EC4N 6AF. The genuine firm CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP's email domain ends in '@cms-cmno.com'.

The genuine firm has confirmed that there is an individual by the name of Thomas Böhm who is a partner in the Vienna office of its associated member firm, CMS Reich-Rohrwig Rechtsanwälte GmbH. The genuine associated member firm CMS Reich-Rohrwig Rechtsanwälte GmbH's email domain ends in '@cms-rrh.com'.

The genuine firm has confirmed that neither it, nor its genuine Thomas Böhm has any connection to 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.