The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the UK has issued a warning about a new scam involving fake solicitors sending emails to demand Bitcoin payments. According to an update, the emails, coming from “[email protected],” claim to have copied recipients’ personal data and threaten to release damaging videos unless a Bitcoin payment is made.
The scam emails falsely use the name “Patrice Joyce” and pretend to be associated with Attwaters Solicitors and Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. The SRA has confirmed that no lawyer named Patrice Joyce is authorized or regulated by them. They emphasized that any business conducted through the email domain “@attwaters.co” is not associated with the legitimate firms. Genuine emails from these firms end in “@attwaters.co.uk” or “@attwatersjamesonhill.co.uk.”
Manjot Kaur Henchie, known as Joyti, whose name is misused in the scam, is a real solicitor at Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. Both Henchie and the firm have confirmed they have no connection to the scam email. The SRA advises anyone receiving such suspicious emails to verify their authenticity by directly contacting the law firm through reliable means and checking the SRA’s records.
This alert serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant against email scams. In 2019, a similar scam targeted website owners using Google’s AdSense program, demanding Bitcoin to prevent alleged attacks that could lead to account suspensions. In 2020, New Zealand authorities warned of a scam where fraudsters claimed to possess information about victims’ online activities, demanding Bitcoin ransom to prevent exposure.
Always verify suspicious emails and be cautious about any demands for cryptocurrency payments. Conduct thorough checks and contact law firms directly to confirm any claims. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from these deceitful tactics.
Get exclusive insider access to daily market intel reports across web3 –lifetime NFT access.