Scammers have recently started calling trademark customers and falsely claiming to be an employee with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The scammers use a tactic called “spoofing,” where they will trick phone networks into displaying a name, number, and location different from their actual name, number, and location. They’re trying to trick you into believing you’re talking to the USPTO, so they can steal money or personal information from you.
If you receive a call from someone you suspect is a scammer, do not give them any personal identifying or payment information. The USPTO will never ask for your personal or payment information over the phone.
If you suspect that you have received a spoofed call:
- Contact the Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) to verify the call was from a USPTO employee and for assistance on what to do next.
- If you have the number that called you, please give it to the TAC representative who answers your call.
- Check the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system to see official communications we’ve sent you about your trademark submission. (You can view the documents we’ve sent by entering your application or registration number in TSDR and selecting the “Documents†tab).
Learn more about what to do if you’ve been scammed and how you can protect yourself.