Alerts
Warning: Emails falsely claiming to be from Clare Johnson of Morr & Co LLP
24 May 2024
Clients have been contacted, requesting money be sent to an alternative bank account.
What is the scam?
Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from a solicitor, Clare Johnson of Morr & Co LLP. The emails request that clients make a payments into a fraudulent bank account in connection with an ongoing property transaction.
The emails contain an attached document which provides the fraudulent bank details and misuses the genuine firm's logo. The SRA understands that the bank details provided in the attachment have no genuine connection to Morr & Co LLP. The emails have been sent from the email address 'clare.johnson@morrlaw.com' and request the reply is sent to 'clare.johnson@morrlaws.com'.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Clare Johnson, whose SRA ID is 548164, and a genuine firm called Morr & Co LLP whose SRA ID is 440504.
The firm has confirmed that 'clare.johnson@morrlaw.com' is a genuine email address but 'clare.johnson@morrlaws.com' is not. The firm confirms that the emails referred to in the alert above were not sent by them. The firm has also confirmed that it will not change its bank details during a retainer. If you have any concerns about emails received from the firm, you should contact it directly.
The genuine firm of Morr & Co LLP has confirmed that it does not have any genuine and intended connection to the scam 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.