Alerts

Warning: Email misusing the name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (trading as CEL Solicitors)

11 December 2025

An email has been sent misusing the name of Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (trading as CEL Solicitors) in relation to a verification process to recover lost trading funds.

What is the scam?

An email has been sent to a member of the public misusing the name of a genuine firm of solicitors (see below). The email informs the recipient that unauthorised individuals were using their identity to trade, and they must complete an identity verification process to gain access to recovered funds.

The email was sent from an individual called 'Jeffrey A. Hofmann', using the email address 'CEL-SolicitorsJeffrey@accountant.com'.

The email contains a link to a 'Representation Document', in which 'Jeffrey Hofmann' claims to be a Financial Agent for the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

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 Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (trading as CEL Solicitors) (SRA ID 606304). The genuine firm uses the genuine email domain @celsolicitors.co.uk and the genuine firm's website is www.celsolicitors.co.uk. Its head office is 20 Chapel Street, Liverpool, L3 9AG and contact number is 015 1909 8212.

Cheshire Estate and Legal Limited (trading as CEL solicitors) has confirmed that it does not have any connection with the correspondence or individual 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.