Alerts

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

21 May 2024

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

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that an email has been sent from an individual called 'Hellen Murphy' claiming to be a 'head of monitoring department' from a genuine firm of solicitors in relation to supposedly recovering funds or assets lost to fraudsters/scammers. The email claims to deal with 'purchase scams; impersonation scams; investment scams; crypto scams; romance scams; advance fee scams; invoice scams and corporate scams'.

The email was sent using an email address of 'cel@govsystems.info'.

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

Any business or transactions through 'cel@govsystems.info' 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 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 of Cheshire Estate & Legal Limited 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 'Hellen Murphy'.

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.