Fraud alert - scam messages claiming to be Teneu Legal

What’s the scam?

Fraudsters pretending to be from Teneu Legal are using Facebook and WhatsApp to falsely offer certificates of sponsorship to international care home workers for a fee.

The scam is being initiated using a Facebook page imitating Teneu Legal, with a person calling themselves ‘Victoria Smith’ advertising jobs in UK care homes to international groups with the promise of sponsorship.

Those who make contact are directed to a WhatsApp business account, where they are asked to supply personal documents and details in order to receive sponsorship. People are then issued an invoice for a fee of £670 to be paid to a Barclay’s bank account.

The fraudsters have used text taken from Teneu Legal’s real website and its logo to appear legitimate.

What should you do?

Please do not engage with anyone claiming to be Teneu Legal on Facebook or WhatsApp. Please do not provide any personal information to such messages or make payments for any invoices received via these channels.

If you have received what you suspect is on online scam, such as a Facebook or WhatsApp message, you should report this to Police Scotland by calling 101. Where a fraud or scam has actually taken place, it should be reported directly to Police Scotland. Find out more about reporting crime in Scotland here.

When working with a solicitor or law firm, it is important to carry out due diligence and check the authenticity of correspondence you receive. Use our Find a Solicitor search tool to find the contact details for all practising Scottish solicitors.