Alerts

Warning: Documents from 'Sam Ross' of 'Justicia Internacional', misusing the name of A & E Law Ltd

27 February 2025

Correspondence has been sent from a 'Samuel / Sam Ross', supposedly of 'Justicia Internacional', regarding the purported recovery of investment funds.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been informed that documents have been sent to a member of the public from the telephone number '+31 6 16986177', claiming to be from a 'Samuel/Sam Ross'. 'Samuel/Sam Ross' claimed to be from 'Justicia Internacional' and was corresponding with the recipient in relation to the supposed recovery of crypto-currency investment funds.

Among the documents provided, and seen by the SRA, was a copy of:

1. a supposed certificate verifying 'Samuel Ross' as a "legal specialist" and a photocopied page of his supposed Estonian passport. There is no connection between this correspondence and a genuine solicitor of England & Wales of the same name (see below).
2. a document supposedly certifying that a genuine firm of solicitors based in London (see below) is trading as 'Justicia Internacional'. The document misuses the name, address and SRA ID number of the genuine firm of solicitors. It also misuses the name and purported signature of an Executive Director of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the purported signature of a representative of the genuine firm of solicitors.

The recipient of the emails and documents also reported concerns regarding contact or correspondence providing a telephone number of '+34 659 09 4928'.

We understand that a member of the public has also been contacted by a 'Mathew Adam Lerman' from 'Justicia International', falsely also claiming a link to the same genuine firm (see below).

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a firm of solicitors called 'Justicia Internacional' or 'Justicia International', or an individual called 'Mathew Adam Lerman'

Any business or transaction through the above contact numbers or organisation is not undertaken by a firm or solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA.  

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates a firm of solicitors called A&E Law Ltd with an SRA ID number of 590806. The firm's head office address is at 85-87 Bayham Street, London, NW1 0AG. The firm also trades as Eshaghian & Co.

A&E Law Ltd has confirmed that it has no connection to the above matter.

The SRA also authorises and regulates a solicitor named Samuel Ross (SRA ID: 433209).  The genuine Samuel Ross has confirmed that he has no connection to the above matter.

The SRA also has no genuine connection to the documents 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.