Trademark Sapling scam exposed: How It Actually Works
Have you received an email from Trademark Sapling (trademarksapling.com) about your brand’s trademark registration? Do not fret!
As serious and legal as it looks, it’s a polished scam to get you to pay for fake trademark registration fees.
Trademarksapling.com is a among a network of fraudulent trademark registration websites. The scammers go as far as impersonating a real attorney, and using threat tactics to coerce business owners to make a payment.
This article is a detailed account of how the scam actually works and its hidden Red flags of this scam.
How Trademark Sapling Scam Works
The scam starts with an email that claims someone is trying to get a federal trademark for your brand or domain. Recipients are asked to respond immediately in order to stop the process.
When they call the number ‘+1 (213) 844-5131”, they are 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.
In reality, no one is attempting to register your brand name, it is just a lie – part of their strategy to scam 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.
Hidden Red Flags
Fake Business Address
Trademark Sapling is using the address of a popular place ’99 South Almaden Blvd Suite 600 San Jose California’ to trick people. When we reached out to the leasing officer, we were told the law firm there is ‘Roeschke Law, 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 proof of being a private firm.
Affiliated with dubious Trademark Registration Websites
Trademarksapling.com shares same website design and content with similar exposed trademark scam. It also uses same telephone number ‘+1 (213) 844-5131’ used by Zoom Trademark, Trademark Precision, etc. All fake trademark websites.
Impersonates Real Attorneys
Trademark Sapling uses the name of reputable attorneys eg; ‘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 Sapling. This certainly raises brows.
Recently Registered Domain
Trademarksapling.com was actually registered on 31st January 2024. Within that short time, it’s impossible to have provided trademark solutions to thousands of businesses.
Complaints from Victims of Trademark Sapling Scam
A couple of small business owners sent us the following messages, detailing their experience with trademarksapling.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 Eric James and he convinced me to register my domain with trademarksapling.com. Did so, but uspto.gov shows my trademark application hasn’t been registered”
“After receiving a final notice from Trademark Sapling, 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!”
What To Do About Trademark Sapling 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 The Trademark Sapling Scam?
If you’ve received the 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 Sapling 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/
