USPTO impersonation scam targets trademark filers after application filings

TradeMark Express is warning trademark applicants about a scam that uses spoofed caller IDs and look-alike email domains to demand fake fees soon after a filing. The tactic can hit small business owners within minutes and may lead to forged signatures or other fraud tied to pending applications.

Why it matters: - The scam can trick new trademark filers into sending thousands of dollars for services that do not exist. - Small business owners are the main target because they often file without in-house legal support. - A fake filing or forged signature can put an application at risk with the USPTO.

What happened: - TradeMark Express warned trademark applicants about an impersonation scam that mimics USPTO officials by phone and email. - In one reported case, a client received a call within minutes of filing an Intent-to-Use trademark application. - The caller ID showed the USPTO's published main phone number. - The caller claimed the applicant's $700 filing only covered "goods" and demanded an extra $4,000 for "Global Authority" to protect the mark internationally. - The next day, the applicant got a follow-up email from a domain registered two days earlier. - The email closely resembled official USPTO correspondence and requested a "verification call" to confirm application details.

The details: - Chris DeMassa, founder of TradeMark Express, said the USPTO does not call applicants to request more money. - DeMassa also said there is no such thing as a "global trademark." - TradeMark Express flagged spoofed caller ID as a key warning sign because scammers can display a legitimate government number even when the call did not come from that office. - TradeMark Express said urgent demands for payments to "expedite," "protect globally" or "verify" an application are not part of standard USPTO procedure. - Newly registered look-alike domains and email addresses are a recurring tactic. - The USPTO's only official website ends in .gov. - The USPTO communicates status issues through formal written Office Actions in the applicant's official case record, not through phone calls asking for payment or personal information. - Trademark protection is jurisdiction-specific, so a "Global Trademark" does not exist. - TradeMark Express also said similar schemes have involved fraudulent third-party verification services, unauthorized scammer-controlled email addresses on official filings, and forged applicant signatures submitted to the USPTO. - A forged signature on a trademark application is a federal offense. - The USPTO can terminate any application found to have been filed with a forged signature.

Between the lines: - The scam works by compressing the timeline between filing and fraud, which can make the first outreach feel legitimate to a new applicant. - Using the USPTO's actual phone number on caller ID may lower skepticism even though the source is fake. - The fake fees are designed to sound procedural and urgent, which can pressure inexperienced filers into paying quickly.

What's next: - TradeMark Express advised applicants to check status only through the USPTO's TSDR system at uspto.gov. - TradeMark Express said filers should hang up and call back independently if a question arises. - TradeMark Express urged applicants to treat any phone call about a pending application as a red flag. - Suspected scams can be reported to the USPTO and the Federal Communications Commission. - The FCC also publishes caller ID spoofing guidance at consumers' guide to spoofing. - TradeMark Express recommended working with a trusted trademark research provider or attorney to reduce the chance of being caught off guard.

The bottom line: - Trademark applicants should assume unsolicited payment demands are suspicious and verify everything through official USPTO channels before acting.