Opening a small business in Southern California? Filing for a trademark to protect your brand name or logo is usually part of the deal. Here’s the problem — scammers know this too. They’re sending out fake government-looking letters, emails and websites designed to trick business owners into paying fees they don’t owe or missing deadlines that actually matter. On October 8, 2026, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a legal alert about a finalized sanctions order against the operator of “USPTO Trademarked” and a handful of copycat filing sites. They also renewed their warning about fake “verification appointment” emails and made-up correspondence addresses. We’re breaking down who’s affected, what this warning actually means, and what business owners in West Covina, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario and Pomona need to do right now.
Background: What This Means
Let’s start simple. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design that tells people where a product or service comes from. When you file a federal trademark application, the USPTO gives you an application serial number and talks to you through its official online system — not through some private company that slides into your inbox. Over the past few years, private operators have built websites and mailers that look official. Real official. These solicitations push business owners to pay for “registration,” “monitoring,” or “renewal” services at jacked-up prices, or they direct applicants to update their info through a fake portal that has nothing to do with the actual USPTO.
According to the USPTO’s public notices on misleading solicitations, the agency has pursued civil and administrative enforcement against several of these operators. The October 8, 2026 alert reports that a sanctions order has now been finalized against the entity operating under the name “USPTO Trademarked” and related look-alike domains. The USPTO’s long-standing guidance on this issue is published at uspto.gov/trademarks/protect/caution-misleading-notices, and business owners can verify any correspondence through the agency’s Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system before responding or paying anything.
The new warning highlights three tactics that have caused real harm: (1) scam letters that list a fabricated correspondence address so that official USPTO notices about an applicant’s own case get rerouted or lost; (2) spoofed emails inviting applicants to a fake “verification appointment” that asks for login credentials or payment; and (3) solicitations that mimic the look of an official USPTO notice but come from a private company with no government affiliation. When a business owner misses a real USPTO deadline because of one of these schemes, the actual trademark application can be declared abandoned, meaning the business loses its place in line and may have to start over.
How This Affects Small Business Owners in Southern California
Small business owners across Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County are frequent targets because many file their own trademark applications without legal counsel and may not recognize official USPTO formatting. Restaurants in Pomona, retail shops in Ontario, service companies in Riverside, and startups in Anaheim and San Bernardino that have recently filed or renewed a trademark are at higher risk, since scammers often target applicants shortly after a filing becomes public record.
The consequences are not just financial. If a fabricated correspondence address diverts an official USPTO office action, the business owner may never see a critical deadline. Missing that deadline can result in the application being abandoned, which can delay or permanently block protection for a brand name that a business has already invested in marketing. Rebuilding an abandoned application can take months and may allow a competitor to file first.
What You Should Do Now
- Check your application status directly. Log in to the USPTO’s TSDR system or Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) rather than clicking links in an unsolicited email.
- Confirm the sender. Official USPTO correspondence comes from a “@uspto.gov” email address. Letters that ask for payment to a private company, even if they reference your serial number, are not from the USPTO.
- Never pay for a “verification appointment.” The USPTO does not charge a separate fee to “verify” an existing application outside its normal filing and maintenance fees.
- Review your correspondence address on file. Business owners can confirm that the address and email listed with the USPTO are accurate and belong to them or their authorized attorney.
- Report suspicious solicitations. The USPTO accepts reports of misleading notices, and businesses can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
- Keep copies of everything. If a deadline was missed because of a scam, documentation of the fraudulent notice can support a request to revive the application.
Business owners who are unsure whether a notice is genuine should pause before paying any fee or clicking any link, and consider having the document reviewed before responding.
How TEZ Law Firm Can Help
TEZ Law Firm assists Southern California business owners with trademark clearance searches, application filings, and responses to USPTO office actions, including matters where an application may be at risk of abandonment. The firm also reviews suspicious correspondence to help clients determine whether a notice originated from the USPTO or from an unrelated private company. For broader business concerns connected to a trademark dispute, such as contract or licensing issues, our business litigation practice can address related disputes, and our intellectual property practice page describes the firm’s general trademark and copyright services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if a trademark notice is really from the USPTO?
Official USPTO communications about a pending application generally come through the TEAS or TSDR online systems, or from an email address ending in “@uspto.gov.” Letters or emails asking for payment to a separate company, or inviting you to a “verification appointment,” are not official USPTO notices.
What happens if I miss a deadline because of a scam notice?
If a fabricated correspondence address or a misleading email caused you to miss an actual USPTO deadline, your application can be marked abandoned. In some cases, an abandoned application may be revived if you can show the delay was unintentional, but this requires a timely petition with supporting documentation.
Can I file a trademark application myself without an attorney?
Yes, individuals and businesses can file directly with the USPTO. Many owners choose to have an attorney review the application and monitor deadlines, since trademark law involves technical requirements that can affect whether an application is approved.
Where do I report a suspected trademark scam?
The USPTO publishes guidance and a reporting process for misleading solicitations at uspto.gov. You can also submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission if you were asked to pay for a service that misrepresented itself as a government requirement.
Does this scam warning affect trademarks that are already registered?
Yes. Scam solicitations often target businesses around renewal periods, such as the Section 8 and Section 9 filing windows, since these deadlines are public record. Reviewing any renewal notice against your official USPTO maintenance schedule can help you avoid paying an unnecessary or fraudulent fee.
If you received a suspicious trademark notice, missed a USPTO deadline, or want help reviewing a pending application, TEZ Law Firm welcomes the opportunity to discuss your situation. You can schedule a consultation through our contact page to speak with our office about next steps for your business.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and agency practices change; contact TEZ Law Firm (West Covina, California) at 626-888-6856 or [email protected] about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.