Alerts

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

10 June 2024

An email has been sent misusing the name of Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited (CEL Solicitors)

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that an email has been sent from an individual called 'Chloe Hendricks' claiming to be from 'Forensics Investigation Department' from a genuine firm of solicitors in relation to supposedly recovering funds or assets lost to fraudsters/scammers.

The firm claims to deal with Fraud Risk Assessments, Financial Fraud, Corporate Fraud, Cyber Fraud, Employee Fraud Investigations and Due Diligence and Background Checks and Fraud Prevention Training and Consulting.

The email was sent from the email address 'chloe.h@celsolicitors.us'.

The email misuses the name, address and SRA ID of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

Any business or transactions through 'chloe.h@celsolicitors.us' 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 & Legal Limited trading as CEL Solicitors whose address is 12th Floor, 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9AG. The SRA ID is 633955. The email domain used by the firm is @celsolicitors.co.uk.

The genuine firm CEL Solicitors has confirmed that they do not have any connection with the email referred to in the above alert and they do not employ a staff member called 'Chloe Hendricks'.

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.