Alerts
Warning: Email misusing the name of Jeremy Willcocks
15 August 2025
An Email has been sent misusing the solicitor name of Jeremy Willcocks in relation to a government compensation scheme.
What is the scam?
A member of the public has received an email from a 'Jeremy Willcocks' purporting to work for 'Arnold & Porter' and 'Clifford Chance LLP & Associates International Law Firm'. The email misuses the name of a genuine solicitor and genuine firm of solicitors (see below). The email seen by the SRA was sent from the email address 'gadrian@interia.eu'. The email informed the recipient that the United Kingdom Government, had approved compensation for victims of cyber-crime and that they were entitled to compensation. The email also advised the recipient to contact 'Jeremy Willcocks' to avoid compensation being sent to the wrong person. A contact address of '45 Longdales Road, Lincoln LN2 2JS United Kingdom' was provided in the email.
Any business or transaction through the email address 'gadrian@interia.eu' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.
Is there a genuine firm or person?
The SRA authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Jeremy Willcocks, whose SRA ID is 148577.
The genuine solicitor has confirmed that they have no connection to any of the details referred to in this alert.
The genuine solicitor is employed by a firm we authorise and regulate called Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer (UK) LLP, whose SRA number is 259382. The head office address for the practice is Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ, England. The firm's email domain is @arnoldporter.com.
The genuine firm has confirmed that it has no connection to any of the details referred to in this 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.