Alerts

Warning: Email from 'Eric Johnson' misusing Farrer and Co LLP's name and address

14 April 2026

An email sent misusing a genuine firm's name and address in relation to an inheritance matter.

What is the scam?

The SRA has seen an email sent to a member of the public from 'Eric Johnson', purporting to be a barrister working at a genuine firm (see below).

The email was sent in relation to an inheritance matter  and asks the recipient to make a £600 payment to start the paperwork to release the inheritance.

The email was sent from the following email address: BarristerEricJohnso@fastservice.com and quotes Farrer and Co LLP's name and genuine office address.

The SRA does not authorise or regulate a solicitor named 'Eric Johnson'.

Any business or transaction through the above email address 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 Farrer and Co LLP (SRA ID 447822). The genuine firm uses the email domain @farrer.co.uk and their head office address is 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LH.

The genuine firm Farrer and Co LLP has confirmed that they do not have any connection to the details referred to in the above alert and it does not employ a member of staff called 'Eric Johnson'.

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.