Trade Mark Scams to Avoid
How to spot fraudulent trade mark notices, protect your information, and avoid common scams targeting trade mark applicants.
Warning: Trade Mark Scams Are on the Rise
Shortly after filing a trade mark application, many applicants receive official-looking letters demanding payment. Most of these are scams. Your application details become public record, making you a target. Always verify any notice before responding or paying.
Common Trade Mark Scams
These are the most frequently reported scams targeting trade mark applicants and owners.
Fake Renewal Notices
Letters mimicking official trade mark office communications, demanding payment for 'trade mark renewal' or 'maintenance fees' that aren't actually due.
Red Flag: Sent before your renewal is actually due, or from an entity that isn't your national trade mark office.
Trade Mark Directory Listings
Invoices for listing your trade mark in an unofficial 'registry' or 'directory' with no legal value. Often designed to look like official government forms.
Red Flag: Demands payment for listing in a private directory with no legal authority or protection value.
Phishing Emails
Emails impersonating trade mark offices or your own trade mark attorney, asking you to click links, download attachments, or provide personal information.
Red Flag: Sent from non-government email domains, contains suspicious links, or requests login credentials.
Unsolicited Foreign Filing Offers
Urgent notices claiming someone is trying to register your trade mark in another country, offering to 'protect' you for an immediate fee.
Red Flag: Creates artificial urgency, demands immediate wire payment, comes from unknown companies.
Official vs Fraudulent Notices
Legitimate Notices
- Official government letterhead and branding
- References your exact application or registration number
- Sent from official government email domains (.gov)
- Professional tone without pressure tactics
- Standard payment methods through official channels
Scam Notices
- Generic or imitation letterhead
- Vague company names mimicking official offices
- Sent from private email domains (.com, .net)
- Urgent language demanding immediate payment
- Requests wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
Protecting Your Information
Take these steps to minimise your exposure to trade mark scams.
Use an Trade Mark Attorney of Record
Having an trade mark attorney listed on your application means correspondence goes through them first, filtering out scam notices before they reach you.
Verify Directly
Always check notices by logging into the official trade mark office website directly — never through links in emails or letters.
Report Scams
Report fraudulent notices to your trade mark office and consumer protection agency. This helps protect other applicants from the same scam.
What To Do If You're Targeted
Don't Pay
Never send money in response to an unsolicited notice without verifying it through official channels first.
Don't Click Links
Avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails. Go directly to the trade mark office website instead.
Verify the Source
Check the sender against the official trade mark office website. Look up official contact information independently.
Report It
Forward scam notices to your national trade mark office and consumer protection agency. They maintain databases of known scams.
Contact Your Trade Mark Attorney
If you're unsure whether a notice is legitimate, ask your trade mark attorney or contact Marko support for verification.
Scam Prevention FAQs
What are common trade mark scams?
The most common scams include fake renewal notices, unofficial trade mark registers demanding payment, phishing emails impersonating trade mark offices, and unsolicited offers to 'protect' your trade mark in foreign countries. These often arrive shortly after you file an application because filings are public record.
How can I tell if a trade mark notice is legitimate?
Legitimate notices come directly from official trade mark offices (USPTO, IP Australia, EUIPO, etc.) and reference your exact application or registration number. They use official letterheads, come from government email domains, and never demand immediate payment via wire transfer or gift cards.
I received a letter saying I must register my trade mark in a directory. Is it real?
Almost certainly not. These are a well-known scam. Unofficial trade mark directories send invoices disguised as official notices, demanding payment to list your mark. These have no legal authority and provide no protection. The official register is maintained by your national trade mark office.
What should I do if I receive a suspicious trade mark notice?
Do not respond or pay. Verify by checking your trade mark office's website directly (not through any links in the notice). Contact your trade mark attorney or Marko support for verification. Report the scam to your trade mark office and consumer protection agency.
How do scammers find my information after I file?
Trade Mark applications are public record. Once filed, your name, address, and trade mark details are published in official databases. Scammers monitor these databases and target new filers who may be unfamiliar with the process and more susceptible to official-looking notices.
File Safely with Marko
Our platform protects your information and filters communications so you never have to worry about scams.