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Trademark scams

Topic: Trademark scams

Kazakhstan issues IP fraud warning; Sweden PRV appoints new DG; trademark increase in Ireland – IP office updates

In our latest update, we look at IPOPHL issuing new rules, the Paraguay IP office head celebrating her first year in office, and more.

UKIPO issues fresh warning over rise in “very convincing” scam invoices

The UK Intellectual Property Office has issued a fresh warning to customers following a 63% rise in misleading invoices being sent to UK rights holders to lure them into paying for unsolicited IP services.

Attorney impersonation on the rise: how legal professionals can protect themselves from fraud

We reveal the proactive steps that legal professionals can take to protect themselves from online impersonation.

Latest content

Alarm as imitation USPTO website emerges, linked to suspicious filing platforms

WTR has identified a website that impersonates the USPTO’s Trademark Assistance Center, with links to trademark filing platforms based in Karachi, Pakistan.

28 June 2023

USPTO spoof call warning; BAD SPANIELS reactions; Twitter copyright suit – news digest

In our latest round-up, we look at INTA filing a statement on timings of grounds for refusal of EU applications, WIPO PAY being used for all domain name cases, and much more.

16 June 2023

“A complete fraud”: law firm takes on Google over ads for scam trademark filing platforms

A new arbitration filing this week accuses Google of allowing the general public “to be deceived” through misleading third-party trademark filing ads on its US search platform.

11 May 2023

"Act smart against scammers": EUIPO and Europol release report highlighting misleading IP invoices

The criminals behind these fraudulent schemes can generate an estimated annual turnover of up to €16 million each, the report finds.

03 May 2023

“We are on top of it” – Vidal faces tough USPTO fraud questioning at US House subcommittee meeting

The US House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, IP, and the Internet held a hearing focused on the oversight of the USPTO yesterday, with director Kathi Vidal taking questions for over an hour.

28 April 2023

Scams, rankings and the EUIPO: top stories you may have missed

We reveal the most-read WTR articles of 2023 so far.

10 April 2023

Anatomy of a solicitation scheme: victim speaks out on dubious tactics of low-cost filing platform

Featured in WTR investigation exclusives

February 2023: In an exclusive investigation, WTR can reveal how a suspicious trademark filing entity lured in a small business owner via an allegedly misleading Google ad.

28 February 2023

Spoofed: USPTO warns of fraudulent phone calls that impersonate agency staff

The fraudulent campaign demonstrates how “scams continue to evolve and become more sophisticated”, claims the agency in an internal email.

02 February 2023

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