Scams round-up

Overview of scam activity

Our round up highlights the latest high-risk scams for both members of the public and solicitors.

We want to help people make well-informed choices about using legal services. As well as supporting solicitors to help keep their firm safe.

In the last three months, from April to June 2019, we have published 83 scam alerts. This is a slight increase in the scam alerts that we published in the previous three months.

Information is also available below on how to avoid scams.

Recent scams

What you should do

Members of the public

• You should check any unexpected correspondence received is genuine (particularly correspondence asking you to provide personal information, funds or informing you of new bank details), by contacting the law firm directly by reliable and established means.
• You can contact us to find out if a solicitor or law firm are regulated and authorised by the SRA.
• You may also need to independently verify details, such as checking public records (e.g. telephone directories and company records) in some circumstances.

Solicitors and law firms

Here are some useful resources to help keep your firm safe.

• Read our priority risk on information security and bogus firms.
• Get practical help from our 'In the shadows: Risks associated with bogus firms' report.
• Our latest report on information security includes advice on how firms can keep cyber-secure.

Last updated: 8 July 2018 | Next update due: 8 October 2019