Alerts
Warning: Letters misusing the name of BG Solicitors LLP
7 June 2024
Letters and emails have been sent misusing the name of BG Solicitors LLP in relation to property purchases.
What is the scam?
The SRA has seen letters and emails falsely claiming to be from BG Solicitors LLP, which invite the recipients to transfer funds to bank accounts purported to belong to JB Services and Sam Sunrise Services.
The letters and email misuse the name, address, telephone, and fax number of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below). The genuine firm has confirmed that the email accounts of four of its staff members were hacked. The hackers then changed PDF documents with new bank details and sent these to the genuine firm’s clients seeking payment of deposit monies.
The SRA does not authorise or regulate JB Services and Sam Sunrise Services.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called BG Solicitors LLP, SRA ID 613000, which is based at Lauriston House, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1JB, England, and its genuine telephone number is 01472240251 and fax is 01472 241 728.
The firm has confirmed that it does not have any genuine connection to the email and letters referred to in the above alert, nor does it have any connection to JB Services and Sam Sunrise Services
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.