Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Cartwright Cunningham Haselgrove & Co

28 March 2024

Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Cartwright Cunningham Haselgrove & Co.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that emails have been sent from someone falsely purporting to be from a genuine firm of solicitors. The emails misuse the name of a genuine solicitor (see below for genuine details) and other staff who work at the firm. 

We understand that the emails request the recipient to make a payment to a different bank account in respect of a property transaction.

We have been informed that the email and domain name used to send the emails was 'bernard.klingher@cch-solicitor.com' (with no 's').

Any business or transactions through the domain name 'cch-solicitor.com' (with no 's') is not undertaken by a firm or an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA or associated with the firm.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Cartwright Cunningham Haselgrove & Co. The firm's genuine email domain ends in @cch-solicitors.com.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Bernard Klingher, who is Partner of the genuine firm of Cartwright Cunningham Haselgrove & Co. The email address above is not the genuine email address of Bernard Klingher.

The genuine firm Cartwright Cunningham Haselgrove & Co and genuine solicitor Bernard Klingher have confirmed that they do not have any genuine and intended connection to the emails referred to above.

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.