Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors)

29 July 2024

An email has been sent misusing the name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors) in relation to supposed Crypto currency funds.

What is the scam?

An email and verification document has been sent from an individual falsely claiming to be 'Chris Higginson' at 'CEL Solicitors'. The email was sent using the email address 'ChrisHigginson@protonmail.com' and it refers to supposedly recovering funds lost to trading scams, including with Forex, CFDs and cryptocurrency. The verification document relates to Enhance Due Diligence and is purportedly signed by 'Adriana Maria Williams'.

The email misuses the name, logo, address and the company registration and SRA number of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

Any business or transactions through 'ChrisHigginson@protonmail.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 Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited trading as CEL based at 12th Floor 20 Chapel Street Liverpool L3 9AG. Its Company registration is 10370954 and its SRA ID is 633955.

The genuine firm employs a member of staff called Christopher Higginson, who is its Chief Financial Officer.

Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited does not employ anyone called 'Adriana Maria Williams'.

Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited and Christopher Higginson have 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.

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More information

Update 31 October 2024

The SRA has been informed that a further email together with a supposed verification titled 'Confirmation of the Legality of your Crypto currency funds and a Terms and Condition document has been sent from an individual falsely claiming to be 'Chris Higginson' at 'CEL Solicitors'. One of the documents is signed by an individual called 'James Karter' claiming to be a 'Case Manager Certification'.

The SRA understands that the email was sent using the email address 'celsolicitors@supportcenter.cc'.

Any business or transaction through the email addresses of 'celsolicitors@supportcenter.cc' is not undertaken by a genuine solicitor authorised or regulated by the SRA.