Alerts
Warning: Emails misusing the names of Kayla Acca and Thomas Johnson of Heringtons LLP
18 March 2025
Emails have been sent misusing the names of Kayla Acca and Thomas Johnson of Heringtons LLP regarding supposed inheritances.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from genuine solicitors at a genuine firm (see below for genuine details).
The emails seen by the SRA appear to relate to supposedly administering the estate of deceased individuals, with the recipients of emails often purportedly due to benefit from the estate. They misuse the name of a genuine solicitor, and some misuse the address of a branch office of the genuine firm.
The SRA understands that emails have been sent from the following email addresses:
- kaylaacca1@gmail.com
- thomasjohnsonlawfirm@outlook.com
- johnsonthom14@gmail.com
- johnsonthomllp66@gmail.com
Any business or transaction through the above email addresses 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 Heringtons LLP. Its head office address is Langham House, 5-6 Albert Road, Hastings, TN34 1QT, with five genuine offices in total.
Emails from the genuine firm use the domain '@heringtons.com', with some genuine variations still using '@heringtons.net'.
The SRA authorises genuine solicitors named Kayla Acca and Thomas Johnson who work at the firm of Heringtons LLP.
Heringtons LLP has confirmed that neither the firm nor its Kayla Acca and Thomas Johnson have 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.