Alerts
Warning: Emails or messages falsely claiming to be from Thomas Collier from Dentons
27 January 2025
Emails have been sent falsely claiming to be from Thomas Collier from Dentons.
What is the scam?
The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent that falsely claim to be from a genuine solicitor called Thomas Collier, of Dentons (see below for details of the genuine solicitor).
Some of the bogus emails appear to attach a document purporting to be a Non-Disclosure Agreement and they were sent using the email address of 'thomas.collier@dentons-uk.com'. The emails misuse the name and address of a genuine firm and the name of a genuine individual (see below).
The emails also provide different mobile telephone numbers, including in the emails seen by the SRA of +44 7958 167089 and of '+44 7940 511152'.
The SRA have also seen a telephone / WhatsApp number of '+1(901) 264 7782' which misuses the name and picture of the same genuine solicitor.
Any business or transaction through the telephone numbers '+1(901) 264 7782', '+44 7940 511152' or +44 7958 167089, or the email address of 'thomas.collier@dentons-uk.com' 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 firm of solicitors called Dentons UK and Middle East LLP, which is also known as 'Dentons'. Its genuine London address is One Fleet Place, City of London, London EC4M 7WS. The genuine central contact number for Dentons UK and Middle East LLP, London, is 020 7246 7000.
The SRA also authorises and regulates a genuine solicitor called Thomas Collier, who is a solicitor at Dentons UK and Middle East LLP. The genuine email address of Thomas Collier uses the domain @dentons.com
The genuine solicitor, Thomas Collier, and the firm of Dentons UK and Middle East LLP, have confirmed that neither of them have any genuine connection to the emails or phone numbers 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 5 March 2025
The SRA have been advised that a WhatsApp profile is misusing the name and picture of the same genuine solicitor (as referred to above). The profile provided an email address of 'thomas.collier@dentons-uk.com' (as used in the above alert), thomas.collier@uk-dentons.com and the domain address of 'http://uk-dentons.com'.
The SRA has also seen an email purporting to be from 'Lorraine Newton' at Dentons Group. The email of 'lorraine.newton@dentonsgroup.net' and provided an address of 'Arbor, 255 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 9AX' and the telephone number of '02032879329'.
The SRA does not authorise or regulate a genuine individual called 'Lorraine Newton' at the address of 'Arbor, 255 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 9AX'.
Any business or transaction undertaken through the email addresses of 'lorraine.newton@dentonsgroup.net' and 'thomas.collier@dentons-uk.com', thomas.collier@uk-dentons.com and the domain address of 'http://uk-dentons.com' and the telephone number of '02032879329' is not undertaken by a firm or individual authorised and regulated by the SRA.