Alerts

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

29 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 informed that an email has been sent from an individual 'Victoria Stone' purporting to be from a genuine firm of solicitors in relation to supposed 'Bitcoin account'.

The email was sent using an email address of 'info@cellsolicitors.uk' (which is very similar to the genuine firm's email address (see below).

The email misuses the name of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

Any business or transactions through 'info@cellsolicitors.uk' are 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 The website is www.celsolicitors.co.uk and 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 address 'info@cellsolicitors.uk' and do not employ a staff member called 'Victoria Stone'.

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.