Alerts
Warning: Email misusing the name of David Johns
21 June 2022
An email has been sent misusing the details of ‘David M Johns’ regarding a supposed solar fusion insurance claim.
What is the scam?
An email has been sent to a member of public claiming to be from an individual called 'David M Johns' regarding a supposed insurance claim in respect of solar energy products.
The email states that liability has been accepted by an insurer and compensation is now due.
The email is sent from the email address of 'davidmichaeljohns@protonmail.com'. The email gives the address 338 City Road, London, EC1V 2PY and the name PDM Legal Ltd. It also misuses the name and SRA identification number of a genuine solicitor (see below).
The SRA does not authorise and regulate a firm of solicitors called PDM Legal Ltd.
Any business or transaction through 'davidmichaeljohns@protonmail.com is not undertaken by an authorised solicitor's practice or by an individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called David Michael Johns, whose SRA number is 624021.
The genuine solicitor has confirmed that he has no connection to the email 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.
More information
Update 24 June 2022
The SRA has been informed that another member of the public has received emails from an individual using the name 'David M Johns', regarding the recipient's consumer claims in respect of solar energy products.
An initial email was sent from the email address 'davidmjohns@mailfence.com' in which the supposed 'David M Johns' claimed to have been assigned to the recipient's case(s). A follow up email using the email address 'davidmjohns@pdmlegalltd.co.uk' was then sent requesting initial payments to “process” the claims.
The emails provided the same contact details as above and again misused the SRA identification number of the genuine solicitor, who is not believed to have any connection to the emails.