Alerts

Warning: Emails misusing the name of Hamid Hussain and Merchant Legal Limited

4 September 2026

Emails have been sent misusing the name of Hamid Hussain and Merchant Legal Limited regarding a property transaction.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen emails purporting to be from a genuine firm of solicitors (see below) and misusing the name of a genuine solicitor (see below).

The emails were sent from the email address hamid@merchantslegal.co.uk appearing as if they have been sent from the genuine email address of the genuine firm of solicitors. The email misuses the name of a genuine solicitor and genuine firm’s address in the email sign off.

The emails seen by the SRA provided details of a nominated client account purporting to the genuine firm’s client account and requested that the funds relating to the purchase be transferred to the account details provided.

Any business or transaction through the email address shown above is not undertaken by a genuine solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Merchant Legal Limited (SRA ID 8004728) whose head office address is 973 Stockport Road, Manchester M19 3NP. The genuine firm uses the email domain @merchantlegal.co.uk.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Hamid Hussain (SRA ID 529917) who is the owner of the genuine firm called Merchant Legal Limited. His genuine email address is hamid@merchantlegal.co.uk.

The genuine firm and the genuine solicitor have confirmed that they do not have any connection to the emails referred to in the alert 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.