The Law Society of Scotland (the Society) has warned Scottish solicitors and members of the public to be on the alert for fraudulent or bogus law firms.

The Society have said that qualified solicitors are increasingly being targeted by fraudsters using their details on fake law firm websites and they are asking members to be vigilant and to take action if they find their own or colleagues’ names being listed on the website of a firm they don’t work for.

Earlier this month, Capital Defence Lawyers in Edinburgh became subject to identity fraud when they found their details listed on a website for “Carter Legal Associates”.

Solicitor advocate, John Scott QC at Capital Defence Lawyers, said:

“It’s very unsettling to see our information being used to trick people into contacting a fake law firm, and potentially falling for an online scam. The whole experience has been very time-consuming and stressful.

 

“In addition to the risk to the public there’s a reputational risk for us having our names linked to a ‘firm’ which exists solely to scam unsuspecting members of the public. We would recommend that anyone intending to contact a solicitor or law firm checks the validity of the firm on the Law Society’s website.”

For Capital Defence Lawyers, the experience isn’t over; as one website disappears, another one is created under a slightly different name. They continue to monitor the situation and deal with each new version of the imposter firm.

To check Scottish solicitors’ details visit Find a Solicitor on the Law Society of Scotland’s website.