Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Alia Fardous and Clearwater Solicitors Ltd

30 July 2025

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Alia Fardous and Clearwater Solicitors Ltd.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that the email address has been compromised. The sender is purporting to be Alia Fardous and is sending emails to others asking them to open an attachment and log in. The subject line for the email reads 'Project'. Alia Fardous has confirmed the emails are not from her.

The emails were sent using the email addresses of alia@clearwatersolicitors.co.uk. Alia Fardous has confirmed this email address is currently in use. It is only emails asking the recipient to open an attachment with a 'project' and asking the recipient to log in with their username and passwords that are not sent by her.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor named Alia Fardous (SRA ID: 336107), from a genuine firm of solicitors called Clearwater Solicitors Ltd (SRA ID: 637827).

The genuine firm of Clearwater Solicitors Ltd has confirmed that the email address has been compromised and that if anyone receives any emails to open a file, they must delete it immediately and contact the firm via phone on 01282 838913 to log it.

Any business or transaction conducted through alia@clearwatersolicitors.co.uk, is now undertaken by a law firm or solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA.

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.