Alerts

Warning: Letter misusing the registered address of Bennett Oakley Limited

17 October 2024

Letter misusing the registered address of Bennett Oakley Limited

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that a that a member of the public has received a letter from 'L Malcom Law Associates' in relation to a debt collection misusing the registered address of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below).

The letter provides an email address of 'R.Gibson@LawAssociates.com'.

Any business or transactions through 'L Malcom Law Associates' and the email address 'R.Gibson@LawAssociates.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 Bennett Oakley Limited who are trading as Bennett Oakley Solicitors. The genuine firm has a branch office at 13 Mill Road, Burgess Hill, RH15 8DN. 

The genuine firm of Bennett Oakley Limited has confirmed that it has no connection to the document 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.