Alerts

Warning: Phishing emails falsely claiming to be from Helena Berman of Stephenson Harwood LLP

17 June 2024

Emails has been sent falsely claiming to be from Helena Berman of Stephenson Harwood LLP.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from a partner, Helena Berman of Stephenson Harwood LLP.  The emails request the recipient to transfer money to a bank account in relation to fees purportedly owed to the firm.

The emails were sent from the following email addresses:
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegalAdvis.onmicrosoft.com
  • Berman.Helena@StephensonHarwoodAdvisors.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegalsServ.onmicrosoft.com
  • Berman@StephensonHarwoodAdvisors.onmicrosoft.com
  • helena.berman@shlegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegalServi.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena-Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena@StephensonHarwoodLegal197.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena-Berman@stephensonharwoodlegal197.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegal197.onmicrosoft.com
  • B.Helena@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena@StephensonHarwoodLawService.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLawService.onmicrosoft.com
  • b.helena@stephensonharwoodlegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • H.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegalAdvis.onmicrosoft.com
  • Berman-Helena@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • helena@stephensonharwoodlegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena-Berman@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena@StephensonHarwoodLegal.onmicrosoft.com
  • Helena.Berman@StephensonHarwoodLawsServic.onmicrosoft.com

Any business or transaction through the email address identified above is not undertaken by an individual or firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Stephenson Harwood LLP, SRA ID 567651. The genuine firm uses domain '@shlegal.com'.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Helena Berman, who is a partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP.

The firm have confirmed that neither the firm nor the genuine Helena Berman has any connection to the emails 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.