Alerts
Warning: Email misusing the names of Addleshaw Goddard LLP and 'Lynne McCarney'
7 May 2024
An email has been sent misusing the name of Addleshaw Goddard LLP and 'Lynne McCarney' in relation to a supposed unpaid invoice.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been informed that an email has been sent purporting to be from 'Lynne McCarney' regarding a supposed unpaid invoice. The email requests that prompt payment is made. The email refers to an attachment containing bank details.
The attachment may contain malware.
The email misuses the name of a genuine firm of solicitors and genuine individuals of the genuine firm (see below).
The email was sent from the email address of 'lynne.mccarney@adleshawgoddard.com'. The email domain is very similar to that of the genuine firm's email domain ('adle' rather than 'addle').
The email was copied to other email addresses of 'hannah.brown@adleshawgoddard.com' and 'edward.gratwick@adleshawgoddard.com'.
Any business or transaction through the email domain @adleshawgoddard.com' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a law firm authorised and regulated by the SRA and the Law Society of Scotland. The head office in England is based at Milton Gate, 60 Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4AG. The genuine telephone number is 02076064390. The genuine email domain of the firm ends with @addleshawgoddard.com.
The genuine firm Addleshaw Goddard LLP employs staff members by the names of Lynne MCcarney, Hannah Brown and Edward Gratwick.
The genuine firm of Addleshaw Goddard LLP and its staff members have confirmed that they do not have connection to the email domain '@adleshawgoddard.com'.
What should I do?
When a firm's or individual's identity has been copied exactly (or cloned), due diligence is necessary. If you receive correspondence claiming to be from the above firm(s) or individual(s), or information of a similar nature to that described, you should conduct your own due diligence by checking the authenticity of the correspondence by contacting the law firm directly by reliable and established means. You can contact the SRA to find out if individuals or firms are regulated and authorised by the SRA and verify an individual's or firm's practising details. Other verification methods, such as checking public records (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.