Kia tūpato e te whanau, IP scammers are at it again!
It’s Fraud Awareness Week this week and a new IP scam is doing the rounds. For any person that owns a registered intellectual property right, such as a trade mark, patent, or design, then you need to be aware that your contact details are freely available on a public record. Scammers use this information to send unsolicited letters purporting to provide IP renewal services and seeking a payment from you.
A new fraudulent letter is doing the rounds asking owners to pay a renewal fee which is due on their IP rights. The latest scammer has also setup a website and purports to have offices in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
The Commerce Commission has investigated these types of activities in the past, particularly if they are misleading, and in some instances, has even been able to retrieve some payments.
Take care e te whānau because these scams are common. If you receive a letter you are not sure about, then get advice or check with your usual legal service provider before making any payments or providing any of your credit card or financial details.
