Alerts

Warning: Emails falsely claiming to be from Nigel Holt of Richard Griffiths & Co

1 July 2024

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Nigel Holt of Richard Griffiths & Co in relation to remittance from a bank.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen emails falsely claiming to be from Nigel Holt of Richard Griffiths & Co. The emails are falsely alleging that recipients are due to receive remittance from a bank and ask members of public to email back scanned copies of their ID, their mailing address, and phone numbers.

The emails were sent from the following email addresses: nig3lholt.1@gmail.com; nagygygabi@t-online.hu; holtnigel2@gmail.com; nigel.holt@rg-lawyers.co.uk and lam01davvv@gmail.com.

Any business or transaction through the aforementioned email addresses 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 Richard Griffiths & Co, SRA ID 283127. Their head office address is 86 Crane Street, Salisbury, SP1 2QD, England.

The firm's genuine email domain ends in @rg-law.co.uk. The firm's genuine website is https://www.rg-law.co.uk.

The firm have confirmed that they employ a genuine Nigel Holt, who is a legal associate at the firm.

The genuine firm of solicitors have confirmed that neither the firm nor Nigel Holt have a 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.