{"id":199035,"date":"2026-07-30T03:22:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T02:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=199035"},"modified":"2026-08-03T02:46:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T01:46:33","slug":"common-trade-mark-scams-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A trade mark scam is a fraudulent scheme that targets businesses and individuals by exploiting the trade mark registration process under the jurisdiction of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/intellectual-property-office\">United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office<\/a> (UK IPO). The UK IPO, established under the <em>Trade Marks Act 1994<\/em>, is the sole official body responsible for registering trade marks and publishing applications in the UK Trade Marks Journal. Fraudulent operators monitor publicly available IPO records to send unsolicited invoices and conflict notices designed to mimic official correspondence. Recognising that legitimate trade mark fees are payable only to the UK IPO or an appointed attorney registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority is the first line of defence against these schemes. This article explains the most common trade mark scams targeting UK businesses, how to identify them and the steps you can take to protect yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecting Yourself from Trade Mark Scams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trade mark scams rely on businesses acting before verifying unexpected correspondence. Before making any payment or responding to trade mark-related communications, you should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>verify the sender is the UK IPO or your appointed trade mark attorney;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>legitimate trade mark fees are only payable to the UK IPO or your authorised representative;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>never pay unsolicited invoices for publication or registration services; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>not respond to emails claiming an urgent trade mark conflict without independently verifying the sender.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>If you are unsure, contact the UK IPO or your trade mark attorney before taking any action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Publication Register Scams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most prevalent trade mark scams involves fraudulent invoices for publication services. Shortly after filing your trade mark application with the UK, you may receive official-looking correspondence by post from companies with names such as &#8220;OMPS&#8221; (Official Mark Publication Service), &#8220;TPS&#8221; (Trademark Publication Service) or &#8220;VPS&#8221; (Verification Publication Service).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These letters typically arrive within weeks of your application and appear legitimate. They often feature formal letterheads, reference your specific trade mark details and request payment for publishing your trade mark in an &#8220;official register&#8221; or &#8220;international database&#8221;. The invoices usually demand several hundreds of pounds, with payment deadlines creating a sense of urgency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How the Scam Works<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These companies monitor publicly available <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/register-your-trade-mark\/\">trade mark applications<\/a> filed with the IPO. Once your application appears in the official register, they extract your details and send invoices for services you never requested. The correspondence is deliberately designed to resemble official IPO communications, using similar fonts, layouts and formal language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The &#8220;services&#8221; offered are entirely worthless. While these companies may technically publish your trade mark in their own private registers, these publications serve no legal purpose and provide no additional protection or benefit. Your trade mark is already published in the official UK IPO register as part of the standard application process at no extra cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning Signs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several red flags can help you identify these scams:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the invoice comes from a company you did not instruct or recognise;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>payment is requested for &#8220;publication&#8221; or &#8220;registration&#8221; in a non-governmental register;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the company name sounds official, but it is not the UK Intellectual Property Office;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the invoice arrives shortly after filing your application; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>payment deadlines are unusually tight, creating artificial urgency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need legal advice?\n        <br>\n        <span class=\"text-lg not-prose\">\n                            Call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"not-prose\">0808 196 8584<\/a> for urgent assistance.\n                <br>\n                Otherwise, complete this form, and we will contact you on the same business day.\n                    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n<div class=\"not-prose flex justify-center text-left gform_input_bg_white    \">\n    <script>\nvar gform;gform||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.scriptsLoaded=!0}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",function(){gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){gform.domLoaded=!0}),gform={domLoaded:!1,scriptsLoaded:!1,themeScriptsLoaded:!1,isFormEditor:()=>\"function\"==typeof InitializeEditor,callIfLoaded:function(o){return!(!gform.domLoaded||!gform.scriptsLoaded||!gform.themeScriptsLoaded&&!gform.isFormEditor()||(gform.isFormEditor()&&console.warn(\"The use of gform.initializeOnLoaded() is deprecated in the form editor context and will be removed in Gravity Forms 3.1.\"),o(),0))},initializeOnLoaded:function(o){gform.callIfLoaded(o)||(document.addEventListener(\"gform_main_scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.scriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),document.addEventListener(\"gform\/theme\/scripts_loaded\",()=>{gform.themeScriptsLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}),window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{gform.domLoaded=!0,gform.callIfLoaded(o)}))},hooks:{action:{},filter:{}},addAction:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"action\",o,r,e,t)},addFilter:function(o,r,e,t){gform.addHook(\"filter\",o,r,e,t)},doAction:function(o){gform.doHook(\"action\",o,arguments)},applyFilters:function(o){return gform.doHook(\"filter\",o,arguments)},removeAction:function(o,r){gform.removeHook(\"action\",o,r)},removeFilter:function(o,r,e){gform.removeHook(\"filter\",o,r,e)},addHook:function(o,r,e,t,n){null==gform.hooks[o][r]&&(gform.hooks[o][r]=[]);var d=gform.hooks[o][r];null==n&&(n=r+\"_\"+d.length),gform.hooks[o][r].push({tag:n,callable:e,priority:t=null==t?10:t})},doHook:function(r,o,e){var t;if(e=Array.prototype.slice.call(e,1),null!=gform.hooks[r][o]&&((o=gform.hooks[r][o]).sort(function(o,r){return o.priority-r.priority}),o.forEach(function(o){\"function\"!=typeof(t=o.callable)&&(t=window[t]),\"action\"==r?t.apply(null,e):e[0]=t.apply(null,e)})),\"filter\"==r)return e[0]},removeHook:function(o,r,t,n){var e;null!=gform.hooks[o][r]&&(e=(e=gform.hooks[o][r]).filter(function(o,r,e){return!!(null!=n&&n!=o.tag||null!=t&&t!=o.priority)}),gform.hooks[o][r]=e)}});\n<\/script>\n\n                <div class='gf_browser_gecko gform_wrapper gravity-theme gform-theme--no-framework lawyer-form_wrapper gplaceholder_wrapper form-with-labels-no-asterisks_wrapper has-new-validation-error-styling_wrapper' data-form-theme='gravity-theme' data-form-index='0' id='gform_wrapper_2453' style='display:none'><div id='gf_2453' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'><\/div><form method='post' enctype='multipart\/form-data' target='gform_ajax_frame_2453' id='gform_2453' class='lawyer-form gplaceholder form-with-labels-no-asterisks has-new-validation-error-styling' action='\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199035#gf_2453' data-formid='2453' novalidate>\n                        <div class='gform-body gform_body'><div id='gform_fields_2453' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below validation_below'><div id=\"field_2453_1000\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-honeypot gform_validation_container field_sublabel_below gfield--has-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_1000'>Phone<\/label><div class='ginput_container'><input name='input_1000' id='input_2453_1000' type='text' value='' autocomplete='new-password'\/><\/div><div class='gfield_description' id='gfield_description_2453_1000'>This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.<\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_1\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-text gfield--input-type-text gf_left_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_1'>First Name<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_1' id='input_2453_1' type='text' value='' class='medium'     aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_12\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-text gfield--input-type-text gf_right_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_12'>Last Name<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_12' id='input_2453_12' type='text' value='' class='medium'     aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_2\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-email gfield--input-type-email gf_left_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_2'>Email Address<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'>\n                            <input name='input_2' id='input_2453_2' type='email' value='' class='medium'    aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  \/>\n                        <\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_3\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-phone gfield--input-type-phone gf_right_half gfield--width-half gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_3'>Phone<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_phone'><input name='input_3' id='input_2453_3' type='tel' value='' class='medium'   aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_14\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-select gfield--input-type-select gfield--width-full custom-select gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_14'>Number of Employees in Your Business<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_select'><select name='input_14' id='input_2453_14' class='large gfield_select'    aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" ><option value='' selected='selected'>Select ...<\/option><option value='0' >0<\/option><option value='1' >1-5<\/option><option value='6' >6-20<\/option><option value='21' >21-50<\/option><option value='51' >51-250<\/option><option value='250' >250+<\/option><\/select><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_4\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-textarea gfield--input-type-textarea gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_2453_4'>Tell us about your enquiry<span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_text\">(Required)<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_textarea'><textarea name='input_4' id='input_2453_4' class='textarea medium'     aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   rows='10' cols='50'><\/textarea><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_5\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-html gfield--input-type-html gfield_html gfield_html_formatted gfield_no_follows_desc field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  >By submitting this form, you agree to receive emails from LegalVision and can unsubscribe at any time. View our <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/privacy-notice\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. <\/div><div id=\"field_2453_8\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-hidden gfield--input-type-hidden gform_hidden field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_8' id='input_2453_8' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden'  aria-invalid=\"false\" value='http:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199035' \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2453_13\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-hidden gfield--input-type-hidden gform_hidden field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_13' id='input_2453_13' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden'  aria-invalid=\"false\" value='generic_form' \/><\/div><\/div><fieldset id=\"field_2453_999\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-checkbox gfield--type-choice gfield__uk-marketo-opt-in field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><legend class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' ><\/legend><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_checkbox'><div class='gfield_checkbox ' id='input_2453_999'><div class='gchoice gchoice_2453_999_1'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input class='gfield-choice-input' name='input_999.1' type='checkbox'  value='1'  id='choice_2453_999_1'   \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for='choice_2453_999_1' id='label_2453_999_1' class='gform-field-label gform-field-label--type-inline'>By submitting this form, you agree to receive content and event invitations from us to help you grow your business. If you do not want to receive such messages, tick here.<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/fieldset><\/div><\/div>\n        <div class='gform-footer gform_footer top_label'> <button type=\"submit\" id=\"gform_submit_button_2453\" class=\"gform_button button\" onclick=\"gform.submission.handleButtonClick(this);\" data-submission-type=\"submit\"><span class=\"gform_submit_button__text\">Submit Now<\/span><\/button> <input type='hidden' name='gform_ajax' value='form_id=2453&amp;title=&amp;description=&amp;tabindex=0&amp;theme=gravity-theme&amp;hash=ec2463697d0d9cef7b71236ae60964c7' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submission_method' data-js='gform_submission_method_2453' value='iframe' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_theme' data-js='gform_theme_2453' id='gform_theme_2453' value='gravity-theme' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_style_settings' data-js='gform_style_settings_2453' id='gform_style_settings_2453' value='' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_2453' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='2453' \/>\n            \n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_currency' data-currency='GBP' value='wbQ7ImTpJz8q697\/Hs41lFHcW9ER7qdmabQru0ocisn4N5KJ1+m912VCoYD4NhxPf+HC1qFqu6YBsBGME6P9bzscDCEMkwoBQiwHG8JRuIRBUlc=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_2453' value='WyJ7XCIxNFwiOltcIjIyODY0N2ViMWU3NTcxZjA4YTY4NGJmMDcwMTk3Y2I0XCIsXCJiMzk3YmQ1MDBmMmFjNjk1ODE4MzdmNTBhYTA2MzQ0OFwiLFwiNGYyNGZkZGEwMzlkNDUxMWFhZGE1NGYwZmQwZmNiZTdcIixcIjUyMmJkMDE2M2I2ZmEwOTI3NDZhZjU5YTg0ZmM1NDk5XCIsXCIzODRlNjk1YjQxMTAzMWFiYmQ2ODEyMGYyZWFhMDYyNlwiLFwiYjkzNDcwNTE2MjkxOGRjZWViMjQzNzRjNmE0NGVmNTlcIixcIjQxMTliODZhMzVjYzJiMWViNDZiMmQ4NjRlNGUzZmNjXCJdfSIsIjQ3MjNiMzA2ZDIyZGVkODA2N2YyMjYyOThkYzI1ODVmIl0=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_2453' id='gform_target_page_number_2453' value='0' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_2453' id='gform_source_page_number_2453' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' \/>\n            \n        <\/div>\n                        <\/form>\n                        <\/div>\n\t\t                <iframe style='display:none;width:0px;height:0px;' src='about:blank' name='gform_ajax_frame_2453' id='gform_ajax_frame_2453' title='This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.'><\/iframe>\n\t\t                <script>\ngform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {gformInitSpinner( 2453, 'https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/legalv-v6\/img\/spinner.svg', true );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_2453').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_2453');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_2453').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){form_content.find('form').css('opacity', 0);jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { \/* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome *\/ jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').offset().top - mt); }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_2453').val();gformInitSpinner( 2453, 'https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/legalv-v6\/img\/spinner.svg', true );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [2453, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_2453'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}jQuery('#gform_wrapper_2453').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gf_2453').offset().top - mt);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [2453]);window['gf_submitting_2453'] = false;wp.a11y.speak(jQuery('#gform_confirmation_message_2453').text());}else{jQuery('#gform_2453').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger(\"gform_pre_post_render\", [{ formId: \"2453\", currentPage: \"current_page\", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]);        if (event && event.defaultPrevented) {                return;        }        const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( \"gform_wrapper_2453\" );        if ( gformWrapperDiv ) {            const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( \"span\" );            visibilitySpan.id = \"gform_visibility_test_2453\";            gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( \"afterend\", visibilitySpan );        }        const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( \"gform_visibility_test_2453\" );        let postRenderFired = false;        function triggerPostRender() {            if ( postRenderFired ) {                return;            }            postRenderFired = true;            gform.core.triggerPostRenderEvents( 2453, current_page );            if ( visibilityTestDiv ) {                visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv );            }        }        function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) {            var timeout;            return function() {                var context = this, args = arguments;                var later = function() {                    timeout = null;                    if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args );                };                var callNow = immediate && !timeout;                clearTimeout( timeout );                timeout = setTimeout( later, wait );                if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args );            };        }        const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() {            triggerPostRender();        }, 200 );        if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) {            const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => {                mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => {                    if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) {                        debouncedTriggerPostRender();                        observer.disconnect();                    }                });            });            observer.observe( document.body, {                attributes: true,                childList: false,                subtree: true,                attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ],            });        } else {            triggerPostRender();        }    } );} );\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content-next\"><!-- scroll anchor --><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brand Conflict Email Scams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second common scam involves emails claiming urgent <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/what-can-i-do-if-a-similar-trademark-is-already-registered-in-the-uk\/\">conflicts with your trade mark<\/a>. You receive a message purportedly from a solicitor or trade mark attorney stating they represent a client who wishes to file an identical or similar trade mark to yours. The email typically suggests that their client has priority or that your trade mark may face opposition unless you take immediate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Scam Works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These emails exploit business owners&#8217; fears about losing their <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/rights-in-trade-marks\/\">trade mark rights<\/a>. The sender claims to be conducting due diligence for a client and has discovered your existing trade mark. They may request that you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>confirm whether you are still actively using your trade mark;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>provide evidence of use or trading history;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pay a fee to &#8220;reserve&#8221; your rights or prevent the conflicting application;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>transfer or sell your trade mark rights; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>engage their services to &#8220;protect&#8221; your trade mark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>The scammer&#8217;s goal is to extract money, gather personal information or convince you to abandon your trade mark rights. In some variations, they may offer to &#8220;mediate&#8221; the conflict for a fee or suggest you need their legal services to defend your position.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning Signs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Legitimate trade mark conflicts are handled through formal IPO procedures, not unsolicited emails. Be suspicious if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the email creates artificial urgency with tight deadlines;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the sender requests payment to avoid a conflict;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you are asked to confirm use of your trade mark to an unknown party;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the sender&#8217;s email address does not match their claimed law firm;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the correspondence lacks specific details about the alleged conflicting application; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>you are pressured to make immediate decisions without time for proper legal advice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecting Your Business: Verify All Correspondence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before responding to any trade mark-related communication, verify the sender&#8217;s legitimacy. The UK IPO maintains a list of known scam companies on its website. Check whether the sender appears on this list and compare any correspondence against official IPO communications.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/06\/30054731\/LegalVision-UK-Trade-Mark-Scams-What-You-Need-To-Know-1.png\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">UK Trade Mark Scams: What You Need To Know<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>Increasingly, unscrupulous individuals or companies target trade mark owners with scams, exploiting your dedication to protecting your brand. This factsheet explains what to look for and how to protect your UK business.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/06\/LegalVision-UK-Trade-Mark-Scams-What-You-Need-To-Know.pdf\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Key Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>63%:<\/strong> rise in misleading trade mark invoice reports received by the UK IPO in Q2 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with trade mark applicants the most frequently targeted group.<\/li>\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>3.3 million:<\/strong> fraud incidents were reported in the UK in 2024 &#8211; a record high &#8211; as criminals stole \u00a31.17 billion from victims across all fraud types.<\/li>\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"><strong>49%:<\/strong> of UK Trading Standards authorities investigated IP crime cases on social media platforms in 2023\/24, as online channels become an increasingly common vector for intellectual property fraud.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Intellectual Property Office (July 2024)<\/li>\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">UK Finance (2025)<\/li>\n<li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Intellectual Property Office\u00a0(November 2024)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trade mark scams targeting UK businesses have become increasingly sophisticated, with fraudulent publication invoices and fake conflict emails being the most common schemes. These scams exploit the complexity of trade mark procedures and business owners&#8217; fears about losing brand protection. Always verify correspondence before making payments. Remember that legitimate trade mark fees are only payable to the UK IPO or your appointed attorney, and consult professional advisors when you receive unexpected trade mark-related demands. By recognising warning signs and taking a cautious approach, you can protect your business from these fraudulent schemes while ensuring your trade mark application proceeds smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need help verifying trade mark correspondence or protecting your brand, LegalVision provides ongoing legal support for all businesses through our fixed-fee legal membership. Our experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property-lawyers-lp\/\">intellectual property lawyers<\/a> help businesses manage contracts, employment law, disputes, intellectual property, and more, with unlimited access to specialist lawyers for a fixed monthly fee.&nbsp;To learn more about LegalVision\u2019s legal membership, call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/membership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">visit our membership page<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785378074636\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are publication register scams and how do they work?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Fraudulent companies monitor publicly available IPO trade mark applications and send official-looking invoices requesting payment to publish your mark in a private register. These publications serve no legal purpose. Your trade mark is already published in the official UK IPO register as part of the standard application process at no extra cost.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785376923150\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can I verify if correspondence is genuinely from the UK IPO?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Check that emails come from an @ipo.gov.uk address and letters include the official IPO address in Newport, South Wales. The IPO website lists all official fees and contact details. If in doubt, telephone the IPO directly on 0300 300 2000 to verify whether they sent the correspondence. If your trade mark application was filed by a law firm, you can also send them a copy of the correspondence to verify. Never use contact details provided in suspicious letters.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785376930044\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Will the IPO contact me about my trade mark application?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, the IPO will contact you regarding examination reports, opposition proceedings or other official matters relating to your application. However, they will never request payment through third-party companies or ask you to pay for publication in private registers. All official correspondence includes your application number and comes through formal channels.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1785376939969\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What should I do if I receive an email about a trade mark conflict?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Do not respond immediately or provide any information. First, verify the sender&#8217;s identity by searching for their law firm online and checking that they are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Contact them directly using details from their official website, not the email. Consult your own trade mark attorney before taking any action.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A trade mark scam is a fraudulent scheme that targets businesses and individuals by exploiting the trade mark registration process under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO). The UK IPO, established under the Trade Marks Act 1994, is the sole official body responsible for registering trade marks and publishing applications<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13512,"featured_media":514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[20,186,949,2711,2712],"class_list":["post-199035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-intellectual-property","tag-small-business","tag-intellectual-property","tag-trade-mark-application","tag-trade-mark-scams","tag-trade-mark-scam"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK | LegalVision UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn to identify common trade mark scams in the UK - from fake publication invoices to conflict emails. Protect your business from fraud.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK | LegalVision UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn to identify common trade mark scams in the UK - from fake publication invoices to conflict emails. Protect your business from fraud.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LegalVision UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalVision\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-30T02:22:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-03T01:46:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/30225949\/brand-design-00007.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1067\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Darcy Parker Green\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Darcy Parker Green\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Darcy Parker Green\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d93e306aacc92da4d7d359bc85bce91c\"},\"headline\":\"How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-30T02:22:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-03T01:46:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1249,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/img.legalvision.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/30225949\\\/brand-design-00007.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"small business\",\"intellectual property\",\"trade mark application\",\"trade mark scams\",\"trade mark scam\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Intellectual Property Articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK | LegalVision UK\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/img.legalvision.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/30225949\\\/brand-design-00007.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-30T02:22:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-03T01:46:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d93e306aacc92da4d7d359bc85bce91c\"},\"description\":\"Learn to identify common trade mark scams in the UK - from fake publication invoices to conflict emails. Protect your business from fraud.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785378074636\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785376923150\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785376930044\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785376939969\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/img.legalvision.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/30225949\\\/brand-design-00007.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/img.legalvision.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/30225949\\\/brand-design-00007.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1067,\"caption\":\"How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Intellectual Property Articles\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/category\\\/intellectual-property\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"LegalVision UK\",\"description\":\"LegalVision is a commercial law firm in the UK with a commitment to innovation\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d93e306aacc92da4d7d359bc85bce91c\",\"name\":\"Darcy Parker Green\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/Darcy-Parker-Green-scaled-e1722531560915-96x96.jpeg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/Darcy-Parker-Green-scaled-e1722531560915-96x96.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2024\\\/07\\\/Darcy-Parker-Green-scaled-e1722531560915-96x96.jpeg\",\"caption\":\"Darcy Parker Green\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/author\\\/darcyparkergreen\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785378074636\",\"name\":\"What are publication register scams and how do they work?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Fraudulent companies monitor publicly available IPO trade mark applications and send official-looking invoices requesting payment to publish your mark in a private register. These publications serve no legal purpose. Your trade mark is already published in the official UK IPO register as part of the standard application process at no extra cost.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785376923150\",\"name\":\"How can I verify if correspondence is genuinely from the UK IPO?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Check that emails come from an @ipo.gov.uk address and letters include the official IPO address in Newport, South Wales. The IPO website lists all official fees and contact details. If in doubt, telephone the IPO directly on 0300 300 2000 to verify whether they sent the correspondence. If your trade mark application was filed by a law firm, you can also send them a copy of the correspondence to verify. Never use contact details provided in suspicious letters.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785376930044\",\"name\":\"Will the IPO contact me about my trade mark application?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, the IPO will contact you regarding examination reports, opposition proceedings or other official matters relating to your application. However, they will never request payment through third-party companies or ask you to pay for publication in private registers. All official correspondence includes your application number and comes through formal channels.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.uk\\\/intellectual-property\\\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\\\/#faq-question-1785376939969\",\"name\":\"What should I do if I receive an email about a trade mark conflict?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Do not respond immediately or provide any information. First, verify the sender's identity by searching for their law firm online and checking that they are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Contact them directly using details from their official website, not the email. Consult your own trade mark attorney before taking any action.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK | LegalVision UK","description":"Learn to identify common trade mark scams in the UK - from fake publication invoices to conflict emails. Protect your business from fraud.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK | LegalVision UK","og_description":"Learn to identify common trade mark scams in the UK - from fake publication invoices to conflict emails. Protect your business from fraud.","og_url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/","og_site_name":"LegalVision UK","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalVision","article_published_time":"2026-07-30T02:22:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-03T01:46:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1067,"url":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/30225949\/brand-design-00007.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Darcy Parker Green","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@LegalVision_law","twitter_site":"@LegalVision_law","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Darcy Parker Green","Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/"},"author":{"name":"Darcy Parker Green","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/d93e306aacc92da4d7d359bc85bce91c"},"headline":"How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?","datePublished":"2026-07-30T02:22:44+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-03T01:46:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/"},"wordCount":1249,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/30225949\/brand-design-00007.jpg","keywords":["small business","intellectual property","trade mark application","trade mark scams","trade mark scam"],"articleSection":["Intellectual Property Articles"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#organization"}},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/","name":"Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK | LegalVision UK","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/30225949\/brand-design-00007.jpg","datePublished":"2026-07-30T02:22:44+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-03T01:46:33+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/d93e306aacc92da4d7d359bc85bce91c"},"description":"Learn to identify common trade mark scams in the UK - from fake publication invoices to conflict emails. Protect your business from fraud.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785378074636"},{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785376923150"},{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785376930044"},{"@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785376939969"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/30225949\/brand-design-00007.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/11\/30225949\/brand-design-00007.jpg","width":1600,"height":1067,"caption":"How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Intellectual Property Articles","item":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/category\/intellectual-property\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How Can You Spot Common Trade Mark Scams in the UK?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/","name":"LegalVision UK","description":"LegalVision is a commercial law firm in the UK with a commitment to innovation","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/d93e306aacc92da4d7d359bc85bce91c","name":"Darcy Parker Green","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/07\/Darcy-Parker-Green-scaled-e1722531560915-96x96.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/07\/Darcy-Parker-Green-scaled-e1722531560915-96x96.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/07\/Darcy-Parker-Green-scaled-e1722531560915-96x96.jpeg","caption":"Darcy Parker Green"},"url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/author\/darcyparkergreen\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785378074636","name":"What are publication register scams and how do they work?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Fraudulent companies monitor publicly available IPO trade mark applications and send official-looking invoices requesting payment to publish your mark in a private register. These publications serve no legal purpose. Your trade mark is already published in the official UK IPO register as part of the standard application process at no extra cost.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785376923150","name":"How can I verify if correspondence is genuinely from the UK IPO?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Check that emails come from an @ipo.gov.uk address and letters include the official IPO address in Newport, South Wales. The IPO website lists all official fees and contact details. If in doubt, telephone the IPO directly on 0300 300 2000 to verify whether they sent the correspondence. If your trade mark application was filed by a law firm, you can also send them a copy of the correspondence to verify. Never use contact details provided in suspicious letters.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785376930044","name":"Will the IPO contact me about my trade mark application?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, the IPO will contact you regarding examination reports, opposition proceedings or other official matters relating to your application. However, they will never request payment through third-party companies or ask you to pay for publication in private registers. All official correspondence includes your application number and comes through formal channels.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/intellectual-property\/common-trade-mark-scams-uk\/#faq-question-1785376939969","name":"What should I do if I receive an email about a trade mark conflict?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Do not respond immediately or provide any information. First, verify the sender's identity by searching for their law firm online and checking that they are registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Contact them directly using details from their official website, not the email. Consult your own trade mark attorney before taking any action.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13512"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199035"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199035\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":199060,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199035\/revisions\/199060"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}