[E-trademarks] New, very targeted, very early scam - a sort of spearphishing.

[Laura Geyer]

Dear list:



A client just got caught in the earliest trademark scam I have seen so far. The client wrote and said (somewhat edited to preserve confidentiality), and it involved spoofed numbers and real scamsters. The application was filed less than 48 hours ago.



She wrote: “I received a call from the Patent Trademark Office today.  They were verifying my application and needed another $425.00 payment. She gave me a Reference number ######### (incorrect/irrelevant number) for the trademark and for e-commerce: 9####### (correct serial number). …”…she had me go to the [USPTO] website to verify the number she was calling from (presumably spoofed). The alleged employee then stated, that we had “a flawless application and that is not usually the case.” 🙄🙄🙄🙄I said that was the dead giveaway. Nobody will give you any feedback on an application less than 24 hours after filing.


Just be warned! There is a passel of other scam email crap going all over the place right now too.

Laura

Laura Talley Geyer | Of Counsel

ND Galli Law LLC
1200 G Street, N.W., Ste 800
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 599-9019 (direct)
https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/
https://ndgallilaw.com/
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