Medium riskSmall Business & Workplace Scams

Trademark Registration Scam

In this scam, businesses receive official-looking notices to register, renew, or 'protect' a trademark, charging high fees for unnecessary services or registrations that are not official.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Official-looking invoice (IP)
Main red flag
An official-looking trademark invoice or 'renewal' from a body you cannot verify.
What to do first
Verify with the official intellectual property office before paying.

What this scam usually looks like

In this scam, businesses receive official-looking notices to register, renew, or 'protect' a trademark, charging high fees for unnecessary services or registrations that are not official.

Example message pattern

Example pattern — not a real report
Example pattern: 'Your trademark requires renewal/registration. Pay this fee to maintain protection,' from an unofficial-sounding registry.

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

Red flags to watch for

  • Official-looking notices from an unfamiliar registry
  • High fees for trademark 'registration' or 'protection'
  • Pressure citing loss of protection
  • Details copied from public trademark records
  • A body that is not the official IP office

What to do

  • Verify with the official intellectual property office
  • Work with a reputable attorney or agent for trademarks
  • Do not pay unsolicited registration or renewal notices
  • Report bogus notices to the official office

If you already clicked or replied

  • If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider to dispute it
  • Verify your actual trademark status with the official office
  • Keep the notice as evidence
  • Report it to the IP office and authorities

What not to do

  • Do not pay unsolicited trademark notices
  • Do not trust unfamiliar 'registries'
  • Do not let loss-of-protection threats rush you

Similar scams

Medium risk Business

Directory Listing Scam

In this scam, businesses receive official-looking invoices or 'renewal' notices for online or print directory listings they never ordered, hoping a busy team pays without checking.
Medium risk Email

Domain Renewal Scam

Domain renewal scams target website and small business owners with urgent emails or invoices claiming a domain is about to expire. The message often poses as your registrar or a vague "domain services" provider and pushes you to renew through a link. The aim is usually to charge inflated fees, capture your card details, or steal the login to your registrar account so the domain can be taken over.
Medium risk Government & Tax

Business Registration Scam

In this scam, third-party services or official-looking letters pose as business registration, tax ID (EIN), or compliance filing authorities, charging inflated or bogus fees for filings that are free or low-cost officially.

Frequently asked questions

Are these trademark notices official?
Many are bogus, sent by private firms using public trademark data to charge high fees for unnecessary or non-official services. Verify with the official IP office.
How do I manage trademarks safely?
Work with the official intellectual property office and a reputable attorney or agent, and ignore unsolicited registration or renewal invoices.
I paid one. What now?
Dispute the payment, verify your real trademark status with the official office, keep the notice, and report it.
Why do they know my trademark details?
Trademark records are public, so scammers copy details to make notices look legitimate. That does not make them official.

Last reviewed: June 2026

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.