George Davies George Clarke Cloned Law Firm CEL Solicitors

What Is This Scam?

This is a cloned law firm scam in which fraudsters impersonate CEL Solicitors, a legitimate UK legal firm. The scammers create fake websites and use fraudulent email addresses to contact unsuspecting consumers, presenting themselves as authorized legal representatives. The scam targets individuals who may be seeking legal advice or services, exploiting the trust associated with established law firm branding. Victims are deceived into believing they are communicating with legitimate solicitors, which can lead to financial loss, disclosure of sensitive personal information, or involvement in further fraudulent schemes.

Who Are They Impersonating?

The scammers are impersonating CEL Solicitors, a legitimate law firm operating under the registered business name Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited. CEL Solicitors maintains an official website at cel.co.uk and operates under proper regulatory oversight.

The legitimate firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the independent regulatory body for solicitors in England and Wales. Consumers can verify a solicitor's legitimacy and regulatory status by checking the SRA's official register and consumer guidance at www.sra.org.uk. The SRA has issued an official alert regarding this cloned law firm scam, which is available for public reference.

Evidence & Regulatory Action

Law enforcement and regulatory authorities have confirmed this scam threat. Police departments have issued public warnings about fraudulent communications claiming to originate from law firms. A Bristol resident received a fraudulent letter associated with this scheme, prompting local police to alert residents and followers about the scam, advising the public not to engage with the fraudulent communications.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has taken formal action by publishing an official scam alert. Consumers can review the full regulatory warning and guidance directly from the SRA at their official scam alerts page, which documents this specific threat involving George Davies and the cloned CEL Solicitors identity.

Red Flags

• Fraudulent email addresses such as [email protected] (legitimate firms use professional domain names matching their official websites)
• Suspicious domain names including celltd.uk that closely resemble but do not match the legitimate cel.co.uk
• Unsolicited contact from individuals claiming to represent the law firm
• Requests for personal information, financial details, or payment before proper verification
• Poor communication quality or unusual formatting in official correspondence
• Pressure to act quickly or secrecy regarding the nature of legal matters
• Use of names like "George Davies" or "George Clarke" not verifiable on the SRA register

What To Do If You Have Been Contacted

If you receive communications from anyone claiming to represent CEL Solicitors or any other law firm, take the following protective steps:

• Do not click links or download attachments from suspicious emails
• Verify the solicitor's credentials independently by visiting www.sra.org.uk and searching the SRA register
• Contact the legitimate firm directly using contact details from their official website (cel.co.uk for CEL Solicitors)
• Report the scam to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud reporting service) and provide evidence of all communications
• Report the fraudulent email address and domains to the SRA
• Do not provide personal information, banking details, or make any payments
• Forward the scam alert to friends and family to prevent them from becoming victims
• Consider alerting your bank if you have already shared financial information