Trademark Aims scam Exposed: Fake Trademark Services
Trademark Aims is not a legit Trademark Registration Company. The email received from its alleged lawyer ‘Joshua Paul’ should be treated as a scam.
It claims someone else is about to register your brand’s trademark. However, in reality there’s no such person or client. It’s a polished scam that aims to get you to pay for fake trademark registration fees.
The scammers go as far as impersonating a real attorney, and using threat tactics to get you to make a payment immediately.
Here’s how Trademark Aims actually works, Red flags of this scam, victims report, and what to do about this email from @trademarkaims.com
Overview of Trademark Aims fake Trademark Registration
After getting recipients to believe someone is trying to get a federal trademark for their brand or domain, they’d insist on immediate response in order to stop the process. However, this is where the scam comes in.
When you call the number ‘+1 (669) 666-6955”, you’ll be redirected to someone posing as an attorney. This person who likely has a foreign accent, would aggressively try to collect a $299 fee to register the trademark for you.
Once you make the payment, the scammers would spoof the USPTO logo and send you fake receipts. They do not register the trademark under USPTO.
The final stage of this scam is the disappearing act. How does this happen? by ceasing communication with you.
Complaints from Trademarkaims.com victims
A couple of small business owners sent us the following messages, detailing their experience with trademarkaims.com.
“I received an email stating that my website domain is about to be registered as a trademark by someone else. It had lots of legal mumbo jumbo that made it seem legit. Called and spoke with Joshua Paul and he convinced me to register my domain with trademarkaims.com. Did so, but uspto.gov shows my trademark application hasn’t been registered”
“After receiving a final notice from Trademark Aims, I paid the $299 for trademark registration and other perks. Two weeks later, my trademark application has not yet been filed, and there’s no response from them!”
Warning Signs That Reveal Trademark Aims is a Scam
Fake Business Address
Trademark Aims is using the address of a popular place ‘6601 Center Dr W Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA 90045’ to trick people. When we reached out to the leasing officer, we were told the only law firm there is ‘Creative Channel Services LLC’
No proof of Being a Legal Entity
The legal mumbo jumbo on the email and website homepage is just a trick to make recipients believe they’re a legal entity. On the website, they do not provide any evidence of being a private firm.
Affiliated with dubious Trademark Registration Websites
Trademarkaims.com shares same website design and content with similar exposed trademark scam.
Impersonates Real Attorneys
Trademark Aims uses the name of reputable attorneys eg; ‘Joshua Paul’ ‘Eric James’, James Kleeger, etc. to trick recipients. This is all part of the scam. The real attorneys are not connected to the scam.
Lacks BBB Accreditation
Most trademark registration firms are listed on BBB. But it isn’t the case of Trademark Aims. This certainly raises brows.
Recently Registered Website
Trademarkaims.com was actually registered on February 2024. Within that short time, it’s impossible to have provided trademark solutions to thousands of businesses.
What To Do About @tademarkaims.com email
Do Not Engage
Do not attempt to reply the email as responding can lead to more scams. The best action you should take in this scenario is to totally ignore these emails.
Seek Legitimate Counsel
The next action you should take as a business owner or brand owner is to consult with a reputable trademark attorney for genuine concerns.
Educate Your Staff and Colleagues
Informing your staff and colleagues about this latest scam would ensure they do not fall prey to it. Upon receiving similar emails, they’d be cautious and know the right steps to take.
What are The Right Authorities To Report This Trademark Scam?
If you’ve received the Trademark Aims scam email and/or you’ve fallen victim to the scam, it’s very important to report the scam to relevant authorities such as the USPTO helpdesk, ReportFraud.ftc.gov or Internet Crime Complaint Center. This would enable them issue a warning to the public about the ongoing scam.
You should also report the scam to your local law enforcement agency. Provide them with all the details regarding the scam, including any emails, telephone numbers, or communication you have received.
How To Avoid Similar Trademark Scams
- Ignore Unsolicited calls or emails that are not from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from its domain “@uspto.gov
- Consult an IP attorney if you have any concerns about misleading info you’ve received about trademarks.
- Always vet a company thoroughly before using their services. This you can do by searching for reviews or complaints on TrustPilot and Better Business Bureau.
- Ask detailed questions about their registration process, fees, and what specific services are included.
- Never pay questionable third parties through irreversible means like wire transfers, gift cards or crypto. Responsible firms will have no issue with you using credit cards/payment methods offering fraud protection.
Conclusion
Trademark Aims is among a network of fraudulent trademark websites that uses threatening email to get people to pay for fake legal services related to Trademarks, Copyrights, and Intellectual Property. Do not respond to the email!
References
https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/tm-trademarks-scamprevention_20230427.pdf
https://www.bairdholm.com/blog/dont-be-duped-by-trademark-scams-2/
