Alerts

Warning: Letters and emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from 'Arthur Robinson' of 'Emmersons Solicitors'

15 November 2024

Letters and emails have been sent to a member of the public falsely claiming to be from 'Arthur Robinson' of 'Emmersons Solicitors' in relation to an intellectual property infringement claim.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that a member of the public has received letters from an individual purporting to be 'Arthur Robinson, Compliance Officer for Legal Practice' of Emmersons Solicitors (please see below). The letters use a letterhead that is not the genuine firm's letterhead. However, it provides the genuine firm's office address and website domain. The letters also provide an email address of 'arthur@emmersonslegal.com' and the telephone number of '07405970304'. The letters bear a stamp purporting to be from the genuine firm, misuse the firm's SRA ID and Companies House registration number.

The member of the public also has received WhatsApp messages from 'Arthur Robinson'. The recipient was asked to make payments to a bank account that was not associated with the genuine firm. The WhatsApp messages also provide the email address of ''robinsonarthur484@gmail.com'.

The SRA has also seen email correspondence misusing the name of 'Arthur M Robinson', (please see below). The email was sent using the email address of 'arthur@emmersonslegal.com' and provided a telephone number of '07466553057'. The signature on the footer of the email misuses the genuine firm's name and the genuine firm's office address.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine firm of solicitors called Emmersons Solicitors Limited who are trading as Emmersons Solicitors. The genuine firm’s head office is at Acer House, 52 John Street, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR1 1QN.

The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine individual called Arthur Michael Robinson who is an employee at the genuine firm of solicitors.

The genuine firm of Emmersons Solicitors has confirmed neither it nor Arthur Michael Robinson have any connection to the letters and 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.

More information

Update 22 November 2024

The SRA has also seen a 'memorandum of sale' that also purported that 'Arthur Michael Robinson' of 'Emmersons Solicitors' was acting for the purchaser.  The document provided an address of 'Unit F, Winston Business Park, Chapeltown, Sheffield S35 2PS' and again provided an email address of 'robinsonarthur484@gmail.com' and a telephone number of '07466 553057' (as used in the above alert).

Any business or transaction undertaken through the address of 'Unit F, Winston Business Park, Chapeltown, Sheffield S35 2PS' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.