SRA says emails and Whatsapp messages falsely using David Rintoul and Slaughter and May branding relate to fake property transaction requests
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a warning about a scam involving emails and WhatsApp messages misusing the name of Slaughter and May and one of its solicitors.
The regulator said the correspondence falsely uses the identity of David Rintoul in relation to a purported confidential property acquisition matter.
According to the alert, recipients are told they will be contacted about the transaction, with some messages referencing a deposit arrangement and requesting payment. The communications also misuse the firm’s branding, including email signatures and a profile photograph.
The emails were sent from a number of domains designed to resemble the genuine firm, while WhatsApp messages originated from multiple mobile numbers.
The SRA stressed that any business conducted through these email addresses or telephone numbers is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised or regulated by it.
It confirmed that Slaughter and May has no connection to the communications and that the genuine firm uses its official domain only. The named solicitor has also confirmed he is not linked to the messages.
The regulator advised members of the public to carry out their own checks if they receive similar correspondence, including contacting the firm directly using verified contact details and checking the Solicitors Register.
The warning forms part of a series of recent scam alerts issued by the SRA involving fraudsters impersonating solicitors and law firms in order to obtain money or sensitive information.