Attempted scam and fraudulent communications
Many organisations have seen an increase in scam attempts and fraudulent communications. These often include the use of ‘lookalike’ domains impersonating our firm and/or impersonation of staff members. This can be for example, in the form of emails, WhatsApp or text messages and web sites.
Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”. Please be vigilant and exercise caution when it comes to any unusual or unexpected communications. If you receive a communication purporting to be from or refer to Linklaters and are in any doubt about whether it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm before engaging with the sender.
Be alert to fictitious job opportunity posts and offers of employment which claim to be in the name of Linklaters. We have been made aware of various recruitment-related scams which ask for upfront payments, for example, for office equipment and promise start up bonuses and reimbursement in return for such payments. We will never ask you to make payments for office equipment or otherwise as part of our recruitment process. If you are in doubt about a job opportunity that appears to relate to our firm, please get in touch using the contact details on our careers website at www.linklaters.com/careers.
For us to take action against lookalike domains, we need a copy of the original email which is attempting to impersonate Linklaters. If you have received such an email that you wish to report to us, please send a copy of the email (as an attachment, not a forwarded message) to: scam_email_reports@linklaters.com
We report scam attempts to the relevant regulatory authorities where appropriate and further information can be found on the Solicitors Regulation Authority scam alert page: SRA | Scam alerts | Solicitors Regulation Authority.
For reference, below are some examples of ‘lookalike’ domains that we have been made aware of previously. This list is not exhaustive:
- linkslater.com
- linklaters-legal.com
- linklaters.uk
- linkslaters.com
- linklaterslaw.com
- linklinkaters-eu.com
- linkllaters.com
- linklaters-uk.eu
- link-laters.eu
- link-laters.com
- linklatar.com
- linklatars.com
- liinklaters.com
Examples of scam attempts include:
- Impersonating a partner and requesting payment of a deposit or wanting to discuss a confidential business deal.
- Claiming that an arrest warrant has been issued for the recipient.
- Requesting payment of an invoice.
- Attempting to divert payments to unknown bank accounts.
- Claiming to be a client of Linklaters.
- Advertising fake job listings using the firm’s name.
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Specific examples follow:
February 2024: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of scam emails using domains such as “@linklaters560.onmicrosoft.com”, “@linklaters421.onmicrosoft.com” and “@linklatersLLP638.onmicrosoft.com”.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any email or message from these domains. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported this scam to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
December 2023: Individual claiming to be a partner at Linklaters
We have been made aware of scam WhatsApp messages from +44 7440 605570 purporting to be from a partner of the firm regarding an urgent business deal.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any correspondence from this telephone number.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt about whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
August 2023: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of a scam letter being sent to individuals attempting to misuse the name of the firm.
The scam letter is sent from “Linklaters Abogado” and is signed by “Jose Marcus Davis” with the email address “josemadavis@consultant.com”.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with this letter. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”. The genuine postal address for our Madrid office is Calle Almagro, 40, Madrid, E-28010.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
August 2023: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of scams involving emails using the incorrect Linklaters domain “@linklatersgroup.com” and/or “@eu-linklaters.com” requesting that an outstanding invoice be paid.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any email or message from this domain. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported this scam to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
August 2023: Individual claiming to be a partner at Linklaters
We have been made aware of scam WhatsApp messages from +44 7300 629612 purporting to be from a partner of the firm regarding an urgent business deal.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any correspondence from this telephone number.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt about whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
June 2023: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of scam emails using the domain “@linklaters-pt.com” and “@linklaters-pl.com”.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any email or message from these domains. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported these scams to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
February 2023: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of scam emails using the domain “@linkslater.com”.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any email or message from this domain. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported this scam to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
February 2023: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of scam emails using the domain “@linklaters-legal.com”.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any email or message from this domain. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported this scam to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
December 2022: Individual claiming to be client of Linklaters
We have been made aware of email communications sent by a Mr Emmanuel Mapunde claiming that he is a client of Linklaters. We understand Mr Mapunde has repeatedly been in correspondence with various parties, referencing advice that he claims has been provided by Linklaters.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with Mr Mapunde and he is not a client of the firm or any of our partners or employees.
We have reported this issue to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
November 2022: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of scam emails using the domain “@linklaters.uk”.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any email or message from this domain. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported this scam to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
August 2022: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of scams involving emails using the domain “@linkslaters.com”.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement with any email or message from this domain. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported this scam to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
March 2022: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of a website entitled “linklaterslaw.com”.
Neither Linklaters LLP nor any employees or partners of the firm have any involvement in or connection to this website. Linklaters’ website is www.linklaters.com and genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain of “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt about whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters LLP contact to confirm.
We have reported this website to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
February 2022: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters' name
We have been made aware of scams involving emails using the domain “@linklinkaters-eu.com” attempting to misuse the name of the firm.
The scam emails use an address similar to our genuine domain name, specifically “@linklaters-eu.com. They are written in Italian and purport to be sent by the Finance team at Linklaters requesting payment of an invoice.
We have reported the scams to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
October 2021: Scams involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of a scam attempt involving emails purporting to be from Linklaters and attempting to divert payment of an invoice to an unauthorised bank account.
The scam emails use domain names similar to our genuine domain name (such as “@linkllaters.com”).
Linklaters LLP has no involvement in these fraudulent emails and has not changed its bank account details. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain of “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from or refer to Linklaters (or our employees or partners) and you are in any doubt about whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
June 2021: Scams involving the misuse of Linklaters’ name
We have been made aware of recent scams involving (i) emails purporting to be from Linklaters using domains similar to our genuine domain name (such as, but not limited to, “@linklaters-uk.eu” and “@link-laters.eu”) and (ii) WhatsApp messages purporting to be sent by a client of the firm, relating to a supposedly confidential business deal and requesting the recipient to call a phone number stated to belong to a partner of Linklaters.
Linklaters LLP has no involvement in these emails or messages. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain of “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt about whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
We have reported these scam attempts to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
March 2021: Scams involving the misuse of Linklaters name
We have been made aware of scams involving emails using the domain “@link-laters.com” and WhatsApp messages attempting to misuse the name of the firm.
The scam emails use an address similar to our genuine domain name, specifically “@link-laters.com” and purport to be sent by a partner from Linklaters requesting payment of a deposit.
The scam WhatsApp messages relate to a supposedly confidential business deal that requires completion in the UK and request that individuals call a partner from Linklaters at +4420 4538 1474.
We reported both scams to the Solicitors Regulation Authority
March 2021: Scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ telephone numbers
We have been made aware of a scam involving the misuse of Linklaters’ telephone numbers in calls with automated messages claiming that an arrest warrant has been issued for the recipient of the call.
Linklaters has no involvement in these “spoof” calls where the scammer has set their outbound number as a Linklaters number. Linklaters has reported this scam to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
December 2020: Scam involving the misuse of the Linklaters name
We have been made aware of a scam involving emails attempting to misuse the name of the firm.
The scam emails use email handles similar to our genuine domain name, specifically “@linklatar.com” or “@linklatars.com”, and purport to be sent by a “Lawyer from Linklaters” requesting payment of an invoice. They have been reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain of “@linklaters.com”.
If you receive a communication purporting to be from Linklaters and you are in any doubt about whether or not it is genuine, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm.
October 2019: Scam attempting to divert payments for law firm invoices
We have been made aware of a scam affecting law firms involving emails attempting to divert payments for law firms’ invoices to unknown bank accounts.
The scam emails use domain names similar to the genuine domain of the law firm. Genuine emails from Linklaters only use the domain of “@linklaters.com”.
Linklaters has not changed its bank account details.
If you receive a communication with a notification of Linklaters’ bank account details or if you are in any doubt about a request for payment of an invoice, please telephone your usual Linklaters contact to confirm whether the communication is genuine.
February 2019: Scam involving the misuse of the Linklaters name
Linklaters LLP has been made aware of a scam involving emails attempting to misuse the name of the firm.
The scam emails using the domain of “@liinklaters.com” (please note extra “i” in the email address) have been reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Genuine emails from Linklaters use the domain of “@linklaters.com”.
"419 scam"
Linklaters LLP has been made aware that fraudulent “419 scam” emails are being sent to members of the public purporting to come from an individual who works at the firm. We wish to inform the public that Linklaters LLP has no involvement with these emails. An example of a “419 scam” email can be viewed here.
Members of the public are advised not to respond to any request to provide personal or confidential information in these scam emails. For further guidance please visit http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140402142426/http:/www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2009/11-09