The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued an alert concerning scammers calling trademark customers and falsely claiming to be an employee of the USPTO. Specifically, the scammers are tricking the phone networks into displaying a name, number and location in order to deceive a trademark customer into believing they are receiving a legitimate call from the USPTO.
If you receive a call from someone you suspect is a scammer, do not provide any personal or company information or payment information. The USPTO advises that they will never ask for personal or payment information over the phone. Also, the USPTO should only contact Stradley Ronon if we are listed as your attorney-of-record with the USPTO and not you directly.
If you believe you have received a spoofed call, please take one of the following actions:
- Contact your attorney or paralegal contact at Stradley Ronon so that we can verify via the USPTO database whether any official notifications or communications have been sent concerning your trademark application or registration.
- Contact the USPTO Trademark Assistance Center at 1.800.786.9199 or TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov to verify the call was from a USPTO employee and request assistance for the next steps. In addition, if available, provide the number that called you to the USPTO representative in the Trademark Assistance Center.
Additional information can be found here concerning what to do if you believe you have been scammed: What to Do If You Have Been Scammed.
Information contained in this publication should not be construed as legal advice or opinion or as a substitute for the advice of counsel. The articles by these authors may have first appeared in other publications. The content provided is for educational and informational purposes for the use of clients and others who may be interested in the subject matter. We recommend that readers seek specific advice from counsel about particular matters of interest.
Copyright © 2023 Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP. All rights reserved.