UK IPO warns rights holders of misleading invoices
The UK IPO has issued a new warning to holders of intellectual property rights to be cautious when receiving invoices, after a 63% increase in unsolicited payment requests.
Figures show there has been a recent surge in misleading requests for payments sent by unsolicited organisations, not associated with the UK Intellectual Property Office.
These are typically invoices requesting payment for trade marks, designs, or patents services. Alternatively, customers may receive invoices which request payment at a highly inflated price for services available for a much lower fee or even free of charge, in some cases.
To tackle the issue, the UK IPO has released examples of misleading invoices received and reported by customers, as well as updated guidance on avoiding misleading payment requests. This includes a published list of names currently being used by unsolicited organisations.
Caroline Rich, UK IPO Head of Customer Experience, said: “Bad actors are becoming more creative and persistent in their efforts to target our customers with misleading payment requests. Once payment is made, there is little chance of getting your money back, as those involved often operate across international borders, making enforcement action difficult.
“The recent examples we’re seeing can be very convincing at first glance, so it’s important to remain vigilant.
“Our clear advice is to not pay such invoices, and always report them to the IPO. To help customers know what to look out for, we’ve released images of some recently reported to us. Customers with any doubt about a payment request should always get in touch with us, and anyone who believes they may have been a victim of fraud should report this to the police.”
Kelly Saliger, CITMA President, said: “It is concerning that we find ourselves in a position where we, once again, must issue this warning. Unfortunately, these organisations are finding more sophisticated ways of targeting customers, and it is becoming an increasingly common issue.
“Improving awareness is the best way that we can support rights holders against these scams, ensuring they remain alert and cautious when handling any correspondence. We urge our community to spread the message around this issue to bring this to the forefront of everyone’s attention.
“If ever in doubt about a letter received, customers should not pay any fee, and we strongly recommend contacting a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney or the UK IPO for further advice and guidance.”