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Original poster

Solicitor said they are changing bank account details...due to complete.is it a scam?!

90 replies

bmachine · 01/03/2021 20:23

Hello

Bit of an odd one

Have been dealing with a conveyancing solicitor recommended by our estate agent for many months now

Have had detailed legal advise over phone. Been to office twice (covid). Searches etc the works done.

We were due to exchange today and have transferred deposit to the account number that was on our original client care letter. We verified this account number over phone twice with out solicitor and once over email..

Suddenly today they have advised they are changing to a limited company as of tommorow ( no word before) so will be sending us details of a new account to pay into for completion (told us this over phone and via email)

now I'm an anxious person and this has really set me off worrying I'm about to be scammed

Bf thinks I'm being irrational and we've been dealing with them for months

Can any one advise how I check if their story of converting to a limited company stacks up?

What assurances would you insist on being put in place before you transferred your life savings to a new account?

I have two weeks between exchange and completion so a bit of time to sort this out and feel satisfied

Any thoughts welcome

OP posts:

Liquorishtoffee · 01/03/2021 20:25

How are they sending the details? I’ve heard of scams where things like parents paying school fees are contacted and given ‘new’ bank details.

Comefromaway · 01/03/2021 20:27

Converting to a limited company doesn’t necessarily mean a change of bank account.

Have you phoned them or did they phone you? At work if someone tells us of a change of bank account we require it on signed letter headed paper, then we contact them via our normal phone number (not email which can be hacked)

When I moved house last year my bank organised the transfer in branch and they verified the account.

Original poster

bmachine · 01/03/2021 20:28

They have not been clear on that other then a 'letter' but i dont know if this is a physical letter or a letter sent via email

I'm half considering commuting an hour to their offices in person to have the account details handed to me..worried I'll come across as a crazy lady (I admit this) but then again for two hours out of my day maybe it's worth it...bf think I'm mad.

OP posts:

Hmmph · 01/03/2021 20:29

My solicitors have this warning on their website, so it is a thing:

“There has been a recent significant increase in cybercrime reported against solicitors and their clients. It is vital that you are alerted to this risk.

Criminals are hacking into the computers of clients and sending them emails purporting to come from their solicitors. These emails ask for money to be sent and give details of the account for payment. These are attempts to hijack money from clients and they are often succeeding.”

Can you call your estate agents and get them to confirm?

levoyager67 · 01/03/2021 20:29

alarm bells are ringing in my head

LApprentiSorcier · 01/03/2021 20:29

Phone them on your usual contact number for them. This is a very common scam.

If in doubt I'd ask if I could pay by cheque.

Camelliawatch · 01/03/2021 20:30

It’s a scam! We were warned about this!

Camelliawatch · 01/03/2021 20:30

@bmachine

They have not been clear on that other then a 'letter' but i dont know if this is a physical letter or a letter sent via email

Do it.

QuitMoaning · 01/03/2021 20:31

It could be genuine but it is common for scams to work like this. I am aware of a few people who have lost thousands from the scam of changing bank accounts.
Call the firm independently and also maybe call the bank and ask them if it is genuine. There is limited info they could tell you but I am sure they would stop you if it is a scam.

LApprentiSorcier · 01/03/2021 20:31

Yes, I'd go in person if at all possible for something like this.

iloverock · 01/03/2021 20:31

Phone them. This is a big scam with solicitors.

Do not transfer funds without speaking to your solicitors.

Retrievemysanity · 01/03/2021 20:31

You could check on here and see if it’s registered as limited now (or ring and see if they’ve had an application to change) www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/

MissMarpleTheMurderer · 01/03/2021 20:32

Agree, I wouldn't even trust a phone line as its not that difficult reroute them. What's lost other than time if you drive over there.

LApprentiSorcier · 01/03/2021 20:33

Another thing it's worth doing is sending a test payment of £1 and check with them that they have received it.

Iknowtheanswer · 01/03/2021 20:33

Scam. We've had problems with this in my firm, and have warnings all over our website and emails.

Please phone the usual office number tomorrow and speak to someone you have spoken to before. Do not delete or forward on the email. Their IT department will tell you what to do.

Batshittery · 01/03/2021 20:34

Don't do it. It's a scam. Try ringing the solicitor in the morning using a number you know is theirs. The scam is often to clone the email address. If you can't get through on the phone, then visit them. It will save you £££

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 01/03/2021 20:34

Classic scam, absolutely do not send any money to the “new” account

Any kind of excuse is a red herring, don't spend your time trying to check anything. Speak to the solicitor directly.

Bandino · 01/03/2021 20:34

I would use a number you used previously to call them and verify or go in and ask in person. This sort of crime is rife. Whether or not they've changed to a limited company is irrelevant. Anyone can change their bank account whenever they like. But there are lots of phishing scams like this at the moment where emails are intercepted. Your bank may also be able to advise you. Look at their anti fraud advice on their website.

Clymene · 01/03/2021 20:34

How have they 'advised' you? Email, phone call, letter?

StCharlotte · 01/03/2021 20:35

Almost certainly a scam if you're about to complete. I work for solicitors. Our cyber crime warning specifically refers to NOT changing bank details mid-stream.

Ring your solicitors. They also need to know if they've been hacked. Do not accept the details just by email.

Onedropbeat · 01/03/2021 20:35

We were warned about this scam when we bought 4 years ago

It’s obviously still going on

EmmaC78 · 01/03/2021 20:36

Phone them, you don't need to go in person. Just ask them to confirm the details over the phone. It does sound like a scam to me though.

sashagabadon · 01/03/2021 20:36

Ring them and confirm. If possible go to their office and transfer the money in their presence or send a tenner, make sure they get it before sending the rest. Sounds like a scam to me

DaysAreGettingLongerNow · 01/03/2021 20:38

Definitely a scam! Go there in person and talk to them/get the info. Honestly, it’s not worth the risk. As others have said, this is a common crime at the moment. Do NOT transfer any money to the new account under any circumstances.

eurochick · 01/03/2021 20:38

This is a fairly well-known scam in legal circles. As standard whenever we are sent new bank details we have to check them by a second method unrelated to the way in which the new details were sent (so if they emailed the new details, phone using the usual number not the one on the email, for example). The timing would make me very suspicious.

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