logologologo
  • About
    • Firm History
    • Meet Our Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Glossary
  • Practice Areas
    • Copyright
    • Trademarks
    • Patents
    • Technology Transfer, Contracts & Licensing
    • Intellectual Property Litigation
    • Trade Secrets
    • Internet & Domain Name Disputes
    • Corporate Structuring
    • Business Disputes & Resolutions
    • Estate Planning
  • Industries Served
    • Innovations & Inventions
    • Small Businesses
    • Business-to-Business
    • Technology & Software
    • Consumer Products
    • Engineering & Manufacturing
    • Bio-Tech & Medical
    • Architecture & Construction
    • Vehicles & Transportation
  • The Brief
  • Contact
logologologo
  • About
    • Firm History
    • Meet Our Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Glossary
  • Practice Areas
    • Copyright
    • Trademarks
    • Patents
    • Technology Transfer, Contracts & Licensing
    • Intellectual Property Litigation
    • Trade Secrets
    • Internet & Domain Name Disputes
    • Corporate Structuring
    • Business Disputes & Resolutions
    • Estate Planning
  • Industries Served
    • Innovations & Inventions
    • Small Businesses
    • Business-to-Business
    • Technology & Software
    • Consumer Products
    • Engineering & Manufacturing
    • Bio-Tech & Medical
    • Architecture & Construction
    • Vehicles & Transportation
  • The Brief
  • Contact
  • About
    • Firm History
    • Meet Our Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Glossary
  • Practice Areas
    • Copyright
    • Trademarks
    • Patents
    • Technology Transfer, Contracts & Licensing
    • Intellectual Property Litigation
    • Trade Secrets
    • Internet & Domain Name Disputes
    • Corporate Structuring
    • Business Disputes & Resolutions
    • Estate Planning
  • Industries Served
    • Innovations & Inventions
    • Small Businesses
    • Business-to-Business
    • Technology & Software
    • Consumer Products
    • Engineering & Manufacturing
    • Bio-Tech & Medical
    • Architecture & Construction
    • Vehicles & Transportation
  • The Brief
  • Contact
icon for Kim and Lahey law firmby Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm
News, UncategorizedSeptember 21, 20200 comments

New Warning About Trademark Scams Involving Fake Emails & Texts

For years, we’ve been warned not to click links inside emails or text messages, unless we trust the sender. It’s also no secret that scam artists are becoming more refined in their approach, sending emails that look like they’re coming from your bank or credit agency.

Financial institutions aren’t the only ones being spoofed. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is seeing an increase in schemes involving emails and text messages that mimic the USPTO. We know first hand. One of our attorneys received a fraudulent text regarding his trademark just last week.

The USPTO recently issued a warning about emails that appear to originate from its office, but are actually being sent by third parties. Victims of these scams can find themselves out of pocket for large amounts of money or, in some cases, having authorized a third party to take action with respect to the owner’s registrations or pending trademark applications.

Beware of messages that do the following:

  • Spoof the USPTO email address (e.g., noreply@uspto.gov)
  • State that the USPTO has implemented “a new policy” requiring separate registration of clients and that there is a penalty for not complying
  • Provide incorrect USPTO trademark filing information (e.g., incorrect fee information)

What Should You Do?

We strongly advise any client receiving emails that appear to be from the USPTO, not to respond directly about your trademark application or registration. Never pay fees or provide any information to the sender.

Before you take any action, check to see if the communication is legitimate by visiting the USPTO’s Trademark Status & Document Retrieval database. When you enter the trademark application or registration number, it will list all outgoing communications from the USPTO, except for the application filing receipt. If the letter or email you received isn’t listed there, it most likely came from someone else. You can also review examples of misleading notices that are not actually from the USPTO, and a list of known scam artists.

If you think you’ve been targeted by this email scam, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Our team of Intellectual Property attorneys is available to assist you and answer any questions you may have. You can reach us at 864-973-6688.

Tags:
patent and trademark office trademark scams trademarks USPTO
Are Your Non-competes Null & Void? Prev
Kim & Lahey Law Firm Sponsors InnoVision Award for Small BusinessNext

Latest Posts

Cherishby Cherish Benton

Patent Attorney Robert Merting joins Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm

Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm is pleased to announce the addition of Robert Merting as an attorney in the firm’s Greenville, SC, office.  Mr. Merting’s...

Patent Attorney Robert Merting joins Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm

UncategorizedJanuary 19, 2023
Cherishby Cherish Benton

Kim, Lahey & Killough Listed in 2023 Best Law Firms

Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm has been named in the 2023 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" list in Greenville for the fourth consecutive year....

Kim, Lahey & Killough Listed in 2023 Best Law Firms

UncategorizedNovember 3, 2022
Cherishby Cherish Benton

Kim, Lahey & Killough attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers®

The Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm is pleased to announce several of its attorneys are recognized by Best Lawyers® for 2023.   Founding member, Doug...

Kim, Lahey & Killough attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers®

UncategorizedAugust 18, 2022
logo

Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm is devoted to helping clients establish, enforce, and leverage their intellectual property rights. With our client-centric focus, we seek to understand your needs and customize legal solutions that best achieve your goals and budgets.


Any results the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
  

Practice Areas

  • Copyright
  • Trademarks
  • Patents
  • Technology Transfer, Contracts & Licensing
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Trade Secrets
  • Internet & Domain Name Disputes
  • Corporate Structuring
  • Business Disputes & Resolutions

Featured Industries Served

  • Small Businesses
  • Business-to-Business
  • Technology & Software
  • Consumer Products
  • Engineering & Manufacturing
  • Innovations & Inventions
  • Biotech & Medical
  • Architecture & Construction
  • Vehicles & Transportation

Contact Information

Western NC
22 West Main Street, Unit 2
Brevard NC 28712
Office: 864.973.6688
Fax: 864.286.3282


Upstate SC
3620 Pelham Road, PMB #213
Greenville, SC 29615
Office: 864.973.6688
Fax: 864.286.3282


Lowcountry SC
6 Carriage Lane, Suite A
Charleston SC 29407
Office: 843.577.9800
Fax: 843.266.9188

Legal Disclaimer | Copyright © 2022 Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm