Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of WTB Solicitors LLP, Razia Miah and Zarka Ahmed

19 June 2024

Emails have been sent misusing the name of WTB Solicitors LLP, Razia Miah and Zarka Ahmed in relation to conveyancing transactions.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen emails falsely claiming to be from WTB Solicitors LLP. The emails are in relation to conveyancing transactions and ask the recipients to make a 10% deposit of the purchase price. The emails were purportedly sent from Zarka Ahmed and Razia Miah, using the domains @wtbsolicltors.com (the letter 'l' is included after 'c' instead of 'i'), @wtbsolictors.com and @wtbsolictors.co.uk (the letter 'i' is missing after 'c')

The emails misuse the name, address, telephone number and fax number of a genuine firm of solicitors.

The emails also misuse the name of a genuine solicitor and the name of a legal assistant at the genuine firm (see below).

Any business or transaction through the emails zarka.ahmed@wtbsolictors.co.uk, razia.miah@wtbsolictors.co.uk and razia.miah@wtbsolicltors.com are not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called WTB Solicitors LLP whose address is 1st Floor, 601 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester, M13 0RX. The firm's genuine email domain ends in @wtbsolicitors.com. The firm’s genuine telephone number is 0161 224 3311 and its genuine fax number is 0161 257 3239.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Razia Miah who is an employee at the genuine firm.

The SRA also regulates Zarka Ahmed who is a legal assistant at the genuine firm.

The genuine firm of solicitors have confirmed that neither the firm nor Razia Miah or Zarka Ahmed have any genuine 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.