eevBLAB #53 - Beware of Trademark Scams

[EEVblog]

Beware of Trademark listing scams that look like official invoices to renew or protect your trademark.
https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/trade-marks/managing-your-trade-mark/unsolicited-invoices

[BrianHG]

I just got my scam letter #1 for my PCT patent filing 2 months ago.  The 'International Patent & Trademark Agency' wanted 2793$ within 2 weeks with a warning....

Here is a list of all the known PCT Patents and Trademark scam companies:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/warning/pct_warning.html

The list is huge, and they are all scams for money, and, because of where and how they operate, no one can sue or stop them...

[madires]

This kind of scam is running for decades. Another variant is the listing of your company in some yellow pages.

[AndyC_772]

The one I'm seeing most of right now is companies making genuine-looking 'invoices' for domain name registration, which are actually just disguised offers for search engine optimisation.

[EEVblog]

The one I'm seeing most of right now is companies making genuine-looking 'invoices' for domain name registration, which are actually just disguised offers for search engine optimisation.

I used to get those a few years back, but haven't had one for a long time now.

[In Vacuo Veritas]

Sign up all these "companies" to every cult, multi-level marketing, and time-share condo company out there.

[newbrain]

A very common one in Italy, that's being going on since the beginning of internet AFAICR, is the one from "Registro italiano in Internet" (Italian register in internet), of course nothing to do with the actual Italian registrar.

This scam is even more dodgy: the letter seems to imply that the registration is needed by law, but they don't ask for money up front.
If you make the mistake of actually registering, you are signed up for three years and will get the first ~1000€ invoice after one year so that your withdrawal right is long expired.

The "Italian" register is in fact, based in Germany, and asks money through a Czech agency...

[langwadt]

it been done since for ever, used to be bills for a spot in some obscure phonebook or company list. Usually sent out around vacation time  guessing it would be easier to get past the temporary accountant

[MT]

Nigeria Letter scams, Local Phone book scams, BANK ID scams, and what not!

Hello Mistar Daevo Jones!

My name is Ogo Bongo i have found out through my local voddomaster we are related, now when our cousin
Marry Schmitt Bongo died we inherit some 100million , for you to get 50% of these i need you bank ID number please!