Missing �1m after Romford solicitors’ firm Fowkes and Son targeted by fraudsters
Nearly �1m is missing after fraudsters targeted a Romford solicitors’ firm, the Recorder has discovered.
Fowkes & Son, based on Eastern Road, was holding �1.7m of clients’ money in an account when its owners Olatubosun Daramola and Nefisa Mamudu sold it, in good faith, to the crooks, having bought it from long-term partner Peter Fowkes back in 2007.
When the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) intervened in February 2010, it found the company had been abandoned and �990,000 taken from the account.
An SRA spokesperson said: “The Fowkes & Son client account shortfall was, we understand, as a result of fraudulent activities carried out after Mrs Daramola and Mrs Mamudu had handed over control of the practice. This matter was referred to the City of London police.
“There is no evidence to suggest the client shortfall was caused by the former partners and the SRA has no matters it needs to pursue with them. The SRA continues to accept claims against its compensation fund from former clients of Fowkes & Son who may have suffered financial loss.”
You may also want to watch:
Any former client of Fowkes & Son who thinks they may be owed money should call the SRA on 0870 606 2555.
Most Read
- 1 How did your Havering GP surgery score in NHS patient survey?
- 2 Four-car crash in Havering-atte-Bower reignites calls for 20mph speed limit
- 3 Free swimming for schoolchildren in Havering launched ahead of Olympics
- 4 Secondary schools in Havering rated outstanding by Ofsted
- 5 Severe flooding in Havering and Dagenham as "tornado" hits Barking
- 6 Romford drama students to feature alongside celebrities in new WW2 film
- 7 Primary schools in Havering rated outstanding by Ofsted
- 8 10-storey block expansion of 700-home development in Rainham gets go-ahead
- 9 Get clued up on road and train disruptions coming to the area
- 10 Harold Wood protest against proposed Gallows Corner homes
