SRA uncovers a website falsely claiming to be regulated and misusing a legitimate firm’s details
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a scam alert after discovering that a website promoting housing disrepair services had copied the identity of a regulated law firm. The regulator said the site, housingdisrepairclaims.uk, was falsely claiming to be authorised by the SRA and had misused details belonging to Manchester firm Veritas Solicitors.
According to the notice, the website used the SRA identification number assigned to Veritas Solicitors and listed contact information for the firm’s managing partner, Faraz Fazal. Veritas confirmed that neither the firm nor Fazal had any link to the website and had not authorised the use of their details. The site also referenced an entity calling itself Fountain Finances Solicitors LLP, which does not appear on the SRA’s list of regulated bodies.
The regulator stated that any business or transactions carried out through housingdisrepairclaims.uk were not undertaken by a firm authorised and regulated by the SRA. It warned consumers to exercise caution and to verify the legitimacy of any legal service provider before sharing information or entering into an agreement.
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Speaking after the alert was issued, Fazal said that this was a deliberate attempt to mislead individuals seeking help with housing disrepair issues. He said the misuse of professional details created a serious risk for clients who might believe they were instructing a regulated law firm. He added that protecting clients and staff was a priority for Veritas and that the firm was grateful for the SRA’s swift action in exposing the impersonation.
The SRA publishes regular warnings on its scam alert page and has seen a rise in attempts by unauthorised individuals or organisations to adopt the identities of legitimate law firms. These schemes often target vulnerable consumers who may not be familiar with regulatory requirements and who may rely on claims organisations for support in stressful circumstances.
In recent weeks, the regulator has issued several additional warnings. It highlighted a letter sent to a member of the public purporting to come from a firm named Francis Bill Solicitors, which is not authorised. It also reported instances in which two genuine individual solicitors had their names and contact information reproduced on unauthorised websites offering legal services.
The regulator further warned about telephone calls made in the name of a real law firm in connection with supposed diesel emissions claims. Another alert concerned a scammer who had adopted the identities of two real solicitors in order to obtain intellectual property instructions.
The SRA continues to advise consumers to verify law firms through its online register and to report any concerns about suspicious communications. It emphasises that impersonation scams can cause significant harm to the public and to the reputation of the legal profession, particularly where vulnerable clients are targeted.