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Scammers Target Trademark Owners with Deceptive Emails

Carrie A. Johnson
2/22/24

A recent surge in phishing emails has targeted trademark owners, posing a significant threat. These fraudulent messages employ scare tactics, urging recipients to act swiftly or risk losing their trademark rights.

Deception

Unlike typical phishing attempts that impersonate official government agencies, these messages appear to be sent by private entities. The usual claim is that sender is in the process of assisting a third party with federal registration of a trademark that happens to be identical or virtually identical to the email recipient’s trademark.  The email recipient is urged to contact the sender to object to or prevent the third party’s alleged registration attempt.  The recipient also is urged to contact the sender for assistance securing ownership of the trademark via the federal registration process. The emails contain false and misleading language. Responding could lead to payment for services that are not needed or required, or to payment of inflated fees. 

Sources for the Suspect Messages

Recently, these types of deceptive emails have originated from various domain names, adding to the challenge of identifying them. Some recipients have reported receiving messages from seemingly legitimate companies, while others have encountered obscure domains that raise suspicion. Regardless of the sender's name, recipients must exercise caution.

How to Protect Yourself

Protecting your intellectual property is crucial.  Keep apprised of the latest methods scammers use to stay one step ahead.

Should you have any questions concerning e-mails received about your IP, please contact one of our intellectual property attorneys.

[A September 2024 update to this article is available on this web site.  For additional information on other methods employed, please see “Unsolicited Patent and Trademark Services.”]

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   Disclaimer: This alert has been prepared by Eastman & Smith Ltd. for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney/client relationship.