A new fake invoice scam is targeting EU trade mark owners. To date, this scam has targeted businesses in Spain but this practice may well spread further afield and perhaps to wherever EU trade mark owners are to be found.
The misleading invoice appears in the form of a fake decision issued by the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The invoice features the EUIPO logo and requests payment of a registration fee to a Polish bank account.
The matter is being dealt with by the EUIPO and we understand that criminal proceedings have been initiated. As always, our advice is that if you receive any third party requests for payment in relation to a trade mark you should exercise caution and if in doubt, send the document to your usual J A Kemp advisor for review.
Originally published 27 April 2020
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