Ideal for fraud: legal mail found blowing in wind

Mar 27 2008 Abby Alford, South Wales Echo

SOLICITORS’ documents containing confidential information have been found in the street.

The papers, which had not been shredded or ripped up, were discovered blowing in the wind by the Echo.

An identity theft expert said the information was “perfect” for fraudsters and could be used by them to take out store cards and loans in clients’ names.

The documents, from solicitors Freed & Co, had been placed in orange trade waste rubbish bags and put out for collection. But the sacks had broken and the documents had spilled out onto Park Lane, at the rear of the firm’s office in St Andrews Crescent, Cardiff.

A spokesman for solicitors’ watchdog, the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) said it will now assess the case with a view to possibly launching an investigation in the future.

Businessman David Hill, 59, from Hafodrynys,  near Newbridge, alerted the Echo after spotting the problem during a visit to Cardiff on Bank Holiday Monday (Mar 24).

He said: “I am very concerned. I think this is a real breach of confidentiality.

“We are forever being told we have got to shred things because of identity theft, but they obviously haven’t. They should be hauled over the coals for this.”

When the Echo went to Park Lane to investigate further we found:

- Copies of letters to mortgage companies including Northern Rock detailing clients’ full names, addresses and mortgage account numbers;

- A letter from another firm of solicitors to Freed & Co giving details of a person who has gone bankrupt;

- Copies of letters to clients detailing their names and addresses and how much relatives have left them and their children in their will;

- Bills to clients carrying their names and addresses and detailing how much they owe Freed & Co.

Jeffrey Freed, a partner in Freed & Co, said they would do all they can to ensure this does not happen again.

He said: “In the future, all our stuff will be shredded and passed on for recycling via a private firm.”

A spokeswoman for the SRA said: “Solicitors are under a strict duty to keep information about their clients confidential. This includes the safekeeping of documents and assets entrusted to the firm. Breeches of these important rules could lead to investigation by the SRA.”

ID fraud expert Danny Harrison of CPP, a company that provides personal protection advice, said: “What a fraudster wants is to build a profile on you and the kind of information they need is as basic as a name and address.

“These letters can also be used as a form of identity. If a fraudster was looking to take out store cards, mobile phones or some kind of loan, a letter from a solicitor would be ideal.

“Knowing as little information as the fact their mortgage is with Northern Rock or the details on the will is perfect. Fraudsters can use this to get more information.”

Mr Harrison said: “The use of the solicitors’ letterhead would also be very useful for a fraudster as they can replicate it themselves and create their own letters to send out to the unknowing victims and ask them for more information.

“Fraudsters can use this information to pretend to be from Freed & Co to get further information. It is important that Freed & Co contact the victims and warn them that this has happened and as a result, clients should be more aware of calls from the firm.

“We would advise that if they receive a call, they don’t give out any details over the phone.”