Regulator warns of scam letters falsely claiming to represent Walgate Trustees Limited
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a warning after correspondence was circulated falsely claiming to be from the law firm Walgate Trustees Limited in connection with an alleged compensation claim.
According to information provided to the regulator, members of the public have received letters purporting to originate from the genuine firm, despite having no connection to it. The correspondence alleges that Walgate Trustees Limited has been appointed to provide “professional claim management services for spray foam insulation”.
Recipients of the letters are invited to make a payment of £2,100. The correspondence states that the fee is refundable if the outcome of the claim is unsuccessful and advises that recipients may terminate the agreement within 14 days of signing.
The SRA said the letters misuse the name and details of the genuine law firm. They include a bogus logo and provide assurances that the agreement is governed by the laws of England, Wales and Scotland. The letters also misuse the name of a real solicitor and falsely suggest professional legitimacy.
The signature on the correspondence uses the name of Helen Suzanne Cox, a solicitor who is genuinely authorised and regulated by the SRA. The address of the genuine firm, 16 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5DG, is also misused in the letters. In addition, the correspondence lists a telephone number, 0115 7911223, which is not associated with the genuine firm.
The regulator was further informed that a website operating under the domain name “tlwalgate.com” had been linked to the correspondence. The SRA confirmed that the website appeared to have been taken down by the hosting provider.
The SRA has stressed that any business or transactions carried out through the correspondence described are not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised or regulated by the regulator.
Walgate Trustees Limited is a genuine firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA. Its registered address is 16 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5DG, and its official telephone number is 020 3036 7000. The regulator also confirmed that Helen Suzanne Cox, identified in the fraudulent correspondence, is a genuine solicitor with SRA ID 409565.
The firm has confirmed to the SRA that neither it nor Helen Suzanne Cox has any connection to the correspondence, the alleged compensation claims, or the request for payment described in the letters.
The SRA has advised members of the public to exercise caution where a firm’s or individual’s identity appears to have been copied or cloned. It said recipients of correspondence claiming to be from the firm, or of a similar nature to that described, should carry out their own due diligence before taking any action.
This includes verifying the authenticity of correspondence by contacting the law firm directly using reliable and established contact details. The regulator also advised that individuals can contact the SRA to confirm whether a firm or individual is authorised and regulated, and to verify practising details.
In some circumstances, the SRA said additional verification methods may be required, such as checking public records including telephone directories or company records, to ensure correspondence is genuine before engaging in any business or financial transactions.