UK Regulator Warns of New Email Scam by Fake Lawyers Demanding Bitcoin Payments

UK Regulator Warns of New Email Scam by Fake Lawyers Demanding Bitcoin Payments

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the UK has issued a warning regarding a new email scam involving fake lawyers demanding Bitcoin payments.

According to an update on its website, the scam email originates from the address “joyti.henchie@attwaters.co” and claims to have obtained all of the recipient’s personal data. It threatens to release damaging videos unless a Bitcoin payment is made.

Fake Email Impersonates Solicitor

The scam email includes a link to a Bitcoin wallet, which may also contain malware. It falsely uses the name “Patrice Joyce” and claims to be associated with the legitimate law firms Attwaters Solicitors and Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. However, the SRA has confirmed that it does not authorize or regulate any lawyer named Patrice Joyce.

The SRA stresses that any business or transaction conducted through the email domain “@attwaters.co” is not affiliated with the genuine firms or individuals under its regulation. The legitimate firms’ email domains are “@attwaters.co.uk” or “@attwatersjamesonhill.co.uk.”

Manjot Kaur Henchie, known as Joyti, whose name appears in the scam email address, is a genuine solicitor at the legitimate firm Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. Both Henchie and her firm have confirmed they have no connection to the fraudulent email.

SRA’s Advice on Scam Emails

The SRA advises individuals to exercise due diligence if they receive suspicious correspondence. This includes verifying the authenticity of the email by directly contacting the law firm through trusted means and checking the SRA’s records to confirm the individual or firm’s authorization.

Rising Threat of Email Extortion Scams

This alert from the UK regulator underscores the growing need for vigilance against email scams. Individuals are urged to thoroughly investigate any demands for payment, particularly in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, before taking action.

In a similar case in 2019, scammers targeted website owners using Google’s AdSense program, demanding Bitcoin in exchange for protection against alleged attacks that would result in AdSense account suspension.

In 2020, New Zealand law enforcement warned about a cryptocurrency scam where fraudsters blackmailed victims by claiming to possess information about their online pornographic activities. The scammers demanded a Bitcoin ransom, threatening to expose the victims’ alleged activities if they did not pay.

The SRA’s latest warning is a reminder of the importance of staying alert to email extortion scams and verifying any suspicious demands before responding.