Trademark Scams Come in Many Forms

 

If you're considering filing a trademark application, I want to share something I wish someone had told me before I started the process.

Trademark scams come in many forms.

Personally, I have received scam attempts through regular mail, phone calls, text messages, and email. It seems that as soon as a trademark application becomes public, scammers have everything they need to begin contacting applicants.

When you file a trademark application, much of your application information becomes publicly searchable through the USPTO database. That makes it easy for scammers to identify new applicants and target them with convincing-looking solicitations.

One important thing I learned is that official USPTO correspondence does not come by text message. If you receive a text claiming to be from the USPTO about your trademark application, that should immediately raise a red flag.

The USPTO communicates through official channels, such as the Trademark Center, email (if you've enrolled in electronic correspondence), and regular mail—not unsolicited text messages telling you to call a number, complete a verification, or pay additional fees.

If you ever receive a text like that, don't call the number or click any links it contains. Instead, go directly to the official USPTO website and check the status of your application yourself.

One of the latest messages I received said:

"Dear Robert Leo Crepeau, your trademark application for PUNKSTERS 99599667 has been assigned to USPTO Examiner Mark Shiner. Please call (571) 207-7405 to complete verification and obtain approval for your application. Regards, Examination Dept. Reply STOP to opt out."

To me, it looked like yet another attempt to get me to contact someone other than the USPTO directly.

But the scams don't stop there.

I also used a company called Trademark Swyft to help file one of my trademark applications. Later, I was told that I needed to pay an additional $3,300 in fees in order for the application process to continue. Before paying anything, I checked my application's status directly on the official USPTO website. Everything appeared to be moving forward normally, and I found no indication that those additional fees were required. I declined to pay.

Another thing concerned me even more.

The email address listed on my USPTO application wasn't mine—it was an email address set up by the filing service. That meant official USPTO communications were being sent to an address I couldn't access. They acted as the middleman for all communications, leaving me to rely on what I was being told.

I wasn't comfortable with that arrangement.

So I updated the USPTO records to replace that email address with my own. From that point on, official correspondence came directly to me, allowing me to verify everything myself.

That experience reinforced an important lesson: always verify information directly with the USPTO whenever possible. Don't assume that every phone call, email, text message, letter, or message you receive is legitimate simply because it references your trademark application.

Scammers know that filing a trademark is an exciting and often unfamiliar process. They take advantage of that uncertainty by sending official-looking communications that create a sense of urgency or imply that your application is in jeopardy unless you pay additional fees or contact them immediately.

The reason I'm writing this isn't because I'm upset that scammers targeted me. Fortunately, I caught the scams before losing any money.

What really angers me is wondering how many people didn't.

How many first-time business owners, artists, musicians, writers, inventors, and entrepreneurs received these same kinds of messages and assumed they were legitimate? How many people spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on unnecessary fees because they believed what they were told?

We'll probably never know.

That thought bothers me far more than the fact that scammers continue to target me. I was fortunate enough to recognize the warning signs. Others may not be so lucky.

You may remember that I wrote another blog about trademark scams not long ago. I decided to write this follow-up because I wanted to provide more specific examples and raise even more awareness. The truth is, I literally received another scam text just yesterday. Once again, I recognized it for what it was and didn't fall for it. But every time I receive one of these messages, I can't help but think about the people who may not know what to look for. That's the real reason I keep writing about this subject.

I want everyone who is considering filing a trademark application to understand that these scams are real, they're persistent, and they come in many different forms. If sharing my experiences helps even one person avoid losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars, then taking the time to write this article will have been worthwhile.

If you're filing a trademark, make it a habit to verify everything through the official USPTO website. Check your application's status yourself. Be skeptical of unexpected phone calls, emails, letters, and especially text messages asking you to take immediate action or send additional money.

I avoided spending a significant amount of money because I took the time to question what I was being told and verified the facts through the official USPTO records. I sincerely hope you'll do the same. Together, we can spread awareness and make it much harder for these scammers to succeed.

Bob Craypoe
Founder of Craypoe Productions