Filed a trademark application and then got hit with an invoice, a call, or an email asking you to pay up or “verify” your registration? You might be looking at a scam. The USPTO has cracked down hard on companies that prey on small business owners — tricking them into paying for services nobody asked for and nobody needs. Doesn’t matter if you’ve already filed or you’re just thinking about it. This hits small business owners across Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County every single day. Got a suspicious notice sitting in your inbox? Don’t pay it. Don’t click anything. Verify the sender first.
Background: What This Means
Here’s the thing — the USPTO keeps a public record of every trademark application filed in the country. It’s called TSDR (Trademark Status and Document Retrieval), and it includes your name, your business address, sometimes even your email. Scammers scrape this data straight off the public record. Then they use it to send letters, invoices, and emails that look official. Some of these operations go as far as building fake websites designed to look like the USPTO or some related government agency. Pretty bold, right?
As of October 10, 2026, the USPTO has been issuing show-cause orders and final sanctions against the people running these schemes. One case from February 25, 2026 targeted a fake outfit calling itself “USPTO Trademarked” — stock photos, fabricated government seals, made-up fee schedules, the works. All designed to separate applicants from their money. The USPTO’s own guidance lays it out plainly: these scams show up as renewal notices, “registration certificate” offers, or watch-service solicitations that have nothing to do with any real filing requirement. Want to see current examples and flagged sender names? Check the USPTO’s official warning page on misleading notices and trademark scams.
The USPTO has also reported a rise in impersonation phone calls where callers claim to work for the agency and ask applicants to confirm payment information or schedule a fake “verification appointment.” The real USPTO does not call applicants to demand payment over the phone, and it does not require appointments to confirm that a filing was received.
How This Affects Small Business Owners in Southern California
Small business owners in West Covina, Pomona, Ontario, Riverside, San Bernardino, Anaheim, and across Los Angeles are common targets because many file trademarks directly through the USPTO’s online system without legal counsel. Once a trademark application is filed, the applicant’s contact information becomes part of the public record almost immediately. Scammers monitor these new filings daily and often send a fraudulent notice within days of the original filing date, while the business owner is still expecting correspondence about the application.
Many entrepreneurs who filed their own “pro se” trademark applications may not know what real USPTO correspondence looks like, which domain names the USPTO actually uses, or what fees are legitimately required. This makes it easier for scammers posing as the USPTO, a “trademark compliance office,” or a private registry service to collect fees that serve no legal purpose. Some business owners have reported paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars for fake “certificates of registration,” “international trademark listings,” or renewal services tied to dates that do not match the applicant’s actual filing.
What You Should Do Now
- Check the sender’s email domain. Official USPTO communications come from a “@uspto.gov” address. Anything from a different domain, even one that looks similar, should be treated as suspicious.
- Verify your filing status directly. Log in to the USPTO’s TSDR system at uspto.gov to confirm the real status of your application rather than relying on a link in an email.
- Never pay an invoice you did not expect. If you did not personally file for a listed service, or if the fee amount does not match the USPTO’s published fee schedule, do not pay it.
- Do not give out payment information by phone. The USPTO does not call applicants asking for credit card numbers or bank details to “verify” a registration.
- Report suspected scams. You can report misleading notices to the USPTO and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Keep a licensed attorney as your correspondence contact. When an attorney is listed as the applicant’s representative, official USPTO notices go to the attorney first, which can help filter out fraudulent mail sent directly to the business.
Business owners who are also dealing with broader commercial disputes tied to a scam, such as a vendor contract or a fraudulent invoice dispute, may also want to review options under business litigation and commercial dispute resources.
How TEZ Law Firm Can Help
TEZ Law Firm assists business owners with trademark clearance searches, USPTO filings, and responses to USPTO office actions through its trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property services. The firm can review suspicious invoices or notices you received after filing a trademark application and help you confirm whether correspondence is legitimate before you pay anything. TEZ Law Firm can also serve as the attorney of record on a trademark application, which routes official USPTO communications through counsel rather than directly to the business owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a trademark notice is really from the USPTO?
Real USPTO emails come from a “uspto.gov” domain, and the agency does not request payment through third-party invoices, private registry services, or phone calls. If a notice asks you to pay a fee that does not match the USPTO’s current published fee schedule, treat it as suspicious and verify your application status directly on uspto.gov before responding.
I already paid a fraudulent invoice. What should I do?
Contact your bank or card issuer right away to dispute the charge if possible. You should also report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the USPTO so the agency can track the scheme and warn other applicants.
Can scammers actually access my trademark application file?
Scammers do not need to hack any system. Trademark applications become part of the USPTO’s public database shortly after filing, which includes the applicant’s name and contact details. This public information is what scammers use to generate targeted, realistic-looking notices.
Does the USPTO ever call applicants about their filing?
The USPTO generally communicates in writing through official email or mail tied to your application record. It does not place unsolicited phone calls asking applicants to confirm payment details or schedule a “verification appointment,” so any such call should be treated with caution.
Should I hire an attorney just to file a trademark application?
You are not required to use an attorney for a U.S.-based trademark application filed from a U.S. address, but having counsel of record can help route official correspondence away from your direct inbox and may reduce confusion about which notices are legitimate.
If you received a questionable trademark notice, or if you want help filing or protecting a trademark for your Southern California business, you can schedule a consultation with TEZ Law Firm. Founding attorney JJ Zhang (California Bar #326666) and the firm’s staff can review your situation and discuss the options available for your trademark matter. Visit the firm’s contact page to schedule a consultation.
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 626-678-8677 or [email protected] about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.