Trademark scams can arrive by mail, email, text message, or phone call—but a few minutes spent checking the official USPTO record could save you thousands of dollars and a great deal of unnecessary stress.
If you own a trademark or have recently filed a trademark application, there is a good chance you will eventually receive communications regarding your filing. These communications may arrive through regular mail, email, text messages, or phone calls. Trademark-related scams come in many forms, and some can appear very convincing.
Scammers often target trademark applicants because much of the application information becomes publicly available after filing. Once they know you have an application in progress, they may attempt to contact you and create a sense of urgency. They may claim that there is a problem with your application, that fees are due, or that immediate action is required to prevent rejection.
One of the most important things to understand is that any correspondence regarding your trademark application should be carefully verified before you take any action. If the communication claims to be from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), verify that it actually comes from the USPTO before responding. Official email correspondence from the USPTO will come from official USPTO email domains. If you are unsure, log directly into the USPTO system and check your application status rather than relying on information provided in an unsolicited message.
One of the most useful tools available to trademark applicants is the ability to check their application status directly through the USPTO website. Every trademark application is assigned a serial number. By entering that number into the USPTO trademark database, you can view the official status of your application and any actions that have been issued.
This is important because the official trademark record should be your primary source of information. If you receive a letter, email, text message, or phone call claiming there is a problem with your application, don't assume the information is accurate. Instead, use your serial number to check the official record yourself.
In my own case, I received a text message claiming that deficiencies had been found in my trademark application and that the application could be rejected unless I contacted a representative. Rather than taking the message at face value, I checked the status of my application directly through the USPTO website. There were no new actions, deficiencies, or notices reflected in the official record.
That experience reinforced an important lesson: trust the official trademark record, not unsolicited communications from unknown sources. If there is a legitimate issue with your application, it will appear in the USPTO system. Your trademark status is determined by what appears in the official record, not by what someone claims in a text message, email, phone call, or letter.
Another area where applicants should exercise caution involves third-party trademark filing services. Some companies provide legitimate assistance with trademark filings, but it is important to understand exactly how communications are being handled. In some cases, a filing service may establish an email address that receives trademark correspondence on your behalf. If you do not have direct access to that email account, the company effectively becomes the middleman for all communication regarding your application.
This can create problems because you may not know exactly what communications are being received or what actions are actually required. Before hiring any trademark filing service, ask whether USPTO correspondence will be sent directly to you or routed through the company. Maintaining direct access to official communications gives you greater control over your trademark application and reduces the risk of misunderstandings regarding fees, deadlines, or required actions.
I learned this lesson during my own trademark journey. I initially used Trademark Swyft to assist with my filing. At one point, I was presented with an additional charge of approximately $3,300. After conducting my own research, I concluded that the service being offered was not something I needed. That experience prompted me to investigate how correspondence was being handled.
Once I understood the situation, I decided I wanted direct control over all communications regarding my trademark application. I researched the process and updated my trademark records so that official correspondence would be sent directly to my personal email address rather than through an intermediary. The process required some effort, but I was able to complete it successfully. Interestingly, ChatGPT helped guide me through the steps involved in making that change.
After making that update, I no longer had to rely on a third party as the middleman between myself and the USPTO. I could see all communications directly and verify everything for myself.
The lesson is simple: stay informed, verify everything, and maintain as much direct control over your trademark application as possible. Your trademark represents your brand, your work, and often years of effort. The more informed you are, the harder it becomes for anyone to take advantage of confusion, urgency, or lack of information.
Always verify before paying. Always verify before signing. Always verify before responding to unsolicited communications. And whenever possible, rely on information that comes directly from the USPTO and the official trademark record rather than information provided by unknown third parties.
A few minutes spent checking the official status of your trademark application could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars and prevent unnecessary stress. When it comes to your trademark, trust the official record—not the rumor, not the sales pitch, and not the scare tactic.
Bob Craypoe
Founder of Craypoe Productions
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