Law firm Polsinelli has flagged a significant and recent increase in fraudulent emails targeting businesses that have newly filed trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The scam emails are being sent almost immediately after new trademark filings are submitted, exploiting the publicly available nature of trademark application data to appear convincing.
The fraudulent messages originate from the domain [email protected] and purport to arrange a verbal interview with trademark applicants to review their new federal trademark applications.
A deeply concerning element of this scheme is that the emails are generated using actual information pulled directly from trademark filings, which are publicly accessible records.
This use of real filing data gives recipients the false impression that the communication is an authorised message from the USPTO requiring urgent attention and immediate action.
The emails are designed to obtain personal, business, and financial information from trademark applicants, as well as secure payments that are not required by the USPTO under any circumstances.
A sample fraudulent email requests that applicants call a provided phone number for a “verification appointment” with a named examining attorney to confirm owner details, business information, and goods and services data.
The email also asks applicants to have their employer identification number available during the call, raising serious concerns about the potential for financial fraud and identity theft.
Polsinelli has been explicit in its warning: “These are not authentic messages from the USPTO, and establishing an examination interview is not part of the normal trademark application process.”
The firm further stated that “there is no such verification process required by the USPTO, and their only purpose is to defraud.”
Trademark applicants who receive any suspicious communication related to a filing are urged not to respond, not to provide any requested information, and not to make any payments prompted by such emails.
Anyone who receives a suspicious email should verify its legitimacy through official USPTO channels before taking any action whatsoever.