Each week, fake trademark registration and monitoring websites are launched by scammers targeting business owners. The scam is orchestrated through email, the scammers posing as real attorneys. The email claims the recipients brand or business name is about to be registered by another person because it isn’t registered with the Patent & Trademark Office.
Did you receive an email that implies so? Do not panic! The scammers had gotten your email address from USPTO database or by stumbling on your website.
They’ve also impersonated real attorneys to give the scam a sense of authenticity so that when you look up the names on the internet you see he/she exist.
How The Scam Works
It’s an advance fee fraud that impersonates real attorneys and use a false story to incite fear in business owners. The goal of this scam is to get business owners to pay for a non-existent trademark monitoring and registration services.
Anyone who falls for the scam wouldn’t have their brand registered or monitored even after paying hefty fees. We’ve seen this scam happen many times via different websites;
Paramountglobalconsulting.com, cosmicconsultinggroups.com, frontiertrademark.com, overeignintellectualoffice.com, atlanticconsultation.com, sovereigntrademark.com, aramountintellectuallaw.com, trademarkproviders.com, qualitytrademark.com, etc
SideNOTE: Have you come across a scam trademark website not mentioned here? Please drop the website name in the comment section.
The Bait
This advance fee fraud uses email as a channel for its crime. The email is convincingly written with legal jumbo. Here’s what it looks like;
”This is Jeffery XXXX, Paralegal Officer from an Intellectual Property Office of Paramount Consultings Group. I would like to bring to your knowledge that we have received the trademark application for the same business name as yours MyCompanyName, Llc from the State of South Carolina while searching for this brand name, your information appeared. According to IP Protocols, your brand name is not registered with the Patent & Trademark Office that allow others to proceed with the registration.
However, as the Patent and Trademark office & IP Protocols suggest giving priority to the business owner over the new applicant. Therefore, we are reaching out to you for confirming whether would you be interested in reserving the federal trademark rights under your ownership for your name/mark.
Please note that if you choose not to register the trademark, the other applicant will proceed as the Patent & Trademark office processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
We would appreciate your prompt response, as the other applicant is still on hold until we receive your response. In case of no contact from you within the next 4 business days, the other applicant will be given the opportunity to begin their registration following the standard examination and filing procedure with the United States Patent & Trademark Office.
As per the Act of 1946 §§ 1051 et seq, it is mandatory to register your mark to hold the ownership rights federally.
Sincerely,
Jeffery XXXXX
– Paralegal Officer”
Spotting Common Red Flags of This Scam
- There’s no information online about the companies neither are they registered in companies house.
- The company isn’t listed on the provided address in Google map. Most times the address is that of a family home not a business hub or office suite.
- The websites are all recently registered
- Uses urgent language that imply immediate legal action is required. Scammers often use urgency to create panic and force quick decisions.
- The email contains misleading information; the scammers claim recipients brand is “unregistered” which in most cases is simply false.
How To Protect Yourself from This Scam;
Do Not Respond
Do not attempt to reply the email as responding can lead to more scams. The best action you should take in this scenario is to totally ignore these emails.
Educate Your Staff
Informing your staff and colleagues about this latest scam would ensure they do not fall prey to it. Upon receiving similar emails, they’d be cautious and know the right steps to take.
Report To The Relevant Authorities
The USPTO has a page for trademark scams and you can email them directly at: [email protected]
Tips for Outsmarting Trademark Solicitation Scams
- Ignore Unsolicited calls or emails that are not from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from its domain “@uspto.gov
- Consult an IP attorney if you have any concerns about misleading info you’ve received about trademarks.
- Always vet a company thoroughly before using their services. This you can do by searching for reviews or complaints on TrustPilot and Better Business Bureau.
- Ask detailed questions about their registration process, fees, and what specific services are included.
- Never pay questionable third parties through irreversible means like wire transfers, gift cards or crypto. Responsible firms will have no issue with you using credit cards/payment methods offering fraud protection.