Alerts

Warning: Email and telephone calls misusing the name of Watson Woodhouse Limited

7 February 2025

An email has been sent, and telephone calls have been made misusing the name of Watson Woodhouse Limited.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that an email has been sent misusing the name of a genuine employee of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below). The email seen by the SRA relates to prosecuting alleged cryptocurrency fraud and "recovering losses" for their clients. The email was sent from the email address 'charlesrowell@watsonwoodhouse.com' and misused a genuine website address (see below).

The SRA has also been informed that telephone and WhatsApp calls have been made to members of the public from someone claiming to be called 'Dustin Herman', misusing the name of the genuine firm of solicitors (see below) from the telephone numbers '07488 875042' and '07477689947'.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a solicitor by the name of 'Dustin Herman'.

Any business or transaction through the email address 'charlesrowell@watsonwoodhouse.com' or through the telephone numbers '07488875042' and '07477689947' 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 firm of solicitors called Watson Woodhouse Solicitors Limited. The genuine email domain used by the firm is @watsonwoodhouse.co.uk and its contact number is 01642 247656. The firm's website address is www.watsonwoodhouse.co.uk.

The genuine firm has confirmed that Charles Rowell is a solicitor apprentice at Watson Woodhouse Solicitors Limited, and he has confirmed that he has no 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.