Summary:
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the UK has warned about a new scam involving emails from fake lawyers demanding Bitcoin payments.
The scam email, sent from the address “joyti.henchie@attwaters.co”, falsely claims to have copied the recipient's data and threatens to release damaging videos unless a Bitcoin payment is made.
The email falsely uses the name “Patrice Joyce” and claims to be associated with legitimate firms, but the SRA confirmed no lawyer with that name is authorized.
The genuine firms' email domains end in “@attwaters.co.uk” or “@attwatersjamesonhill.co.uk”, not “@attwaters.co”.
The SRA emphasizes that any business or transaction through the email domain “@attwaters.co” is not associated with genuine firms or individuals it regulates.
The genuine solicitor Manjot Kaur Henchie confirmed she has no connection to the scam email.
Beware of Fake Lawyer Bitcoin Scams: UK Regulator Issues Warning
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the United Kingdom has issued a warning about a new scam involving emails from fake lawyers demanding Bitcoin payments.
The scam email, sent from the address “joyti.henchie@attwaters.co”, claims to have copied all of the recipient’s personal data and threatens to release damaging videos unless a Bitcoin (BTC) payment is made.
The email falsely uses the name “Patrice Joyce” and claims to be associated with the legitimate firms Attwaters Solicitors and Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. However, the SRA confirmed that it does not authorize or regulate a lawyer named Patrice Joyce.
The genuine firm’s email domains end in “@attwaters.co.uk” or “@attwatersjamesonhill.co.uk”.
The SRA emphasizes that any business or transaction through the email domain “@attwaters.co” is not associated with the genuine firms or individuals it regulates.
Manjot Kaur Henchie, known as Joyti, the bearer of the name used in the email address, is a genuine solicitor working at the legitimate firm Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. Both the firm and Henchie have confirmed they have no connection to the scam email.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Verify the authenticity of the email: Contact the law firm directly through reliable means and check the SRA’s records to confirm the individual or firm’s authorization.
- Be cautious of demands for payment, especially in cryptocurrencies.
This scam is a reminder of the importance of being vigilant against email scams and ensuring any demands for payment, particularly in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, are thoroughly investigated before action is taken.
Similar scams have targeted website owners using Google’s AdSense program and victims of alleged online pornographic activities, demanding Bitcoin ransoms.
This news highlights the ongoing challenge of cybercrime in the digital age and the importance of staying informed about emerging scams.
Comments