Alerts
Warning: Emails falsely claiming to be from Ashfords LLP
24 July 2024
An email has been sent falsely claiming to be from Elisabetta Giglio-Charlton from the Credit Control team at Ashfords LLP, relating to an outstanding invoice.
What is the scam?
The SRA has seen an email falsely claiming to be from Elisabetta Giglio-Charlton of the Credit Control Department of Ashfords LLP, to a client.
The email was sent from 'e.giglio-charlton.ashfords.co.uk@dr.com', requesting the recipient settle an outstanding invoice by paying funds to an alternative bank account to that of the genuine firm (see below),
The email misuses the name of a genuine firm of solicitors.
Any business or transaction through the email domain 'e.giglio-charlton.ashfords.co.uk@dr.com' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Ashfords LLP. Its genuine email domain ends in '@ashfords.co.uk'.
Elisabetta Giglio-Charlton is employed by the genuine firm of solicitors as a Credit Control Manager in its Finance Team.
The genuine firm of solicitors has confirmed that neither it nor Elisabetta Giglio-Charlton have a genuine and intended connection to the email referred to in the above alert.
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.