SRA warns of scam emails falsely claiming fund recovery services
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a fresh warning about scam emails misusing the name of a well-known law firm in an attempt to mislead recipients.
The alert, published on 7 April 2026, relates to emails claiming to be sent in connection with the recovery of funds. The communications falsely purport to come from an individual described as “Barrister Mrs Irwin Mitchell”.
According to the SRA, the emails were sent from a Gmail account and are not connected to any authorised or regulated legal professional. The regulator confirmed that any business conducted through the named individual or the email address is not linked to a legitimate law firm.
The warning highlights the misuse of the name of Irwin Mitchell LLP, a genuine firm regulated by the SRA. The firm has confirmed that it has no association with the emails and that the communications are fraudulent. It also confirmed that the email domain used in the scam does not match its official domain.
The SRA emphasised that such scams often involve impersonation of established legal practices to create a false sense of credibility. These tactics are commonly used to persuade recipients to engage with fraudulent services or provide sensitive information.
Members of the public are advised to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited communications claiming to be from legal professionals. The SRA recommends verifying the authenticity of any correspondence by contacting the firm directly using official contact details.
Additional checks may include confirming regulatory status through the SRA and reviewing publicly available information such as company records or directories. The regulator has reiterated that cloned or impersonated communications can closely resemble genuine correspondence, making it important for recipients to carry out appropriate due diligence.
No further details regarding financial losses or the scale of the activity have been disclosed in the alert. The warning forms part of ongoing efforts by the SRA to highlight risks associated with fraudulent communications in the legal sector and to protect the public from potential scams.