Fake Trademark Invoices on WhatsApp
Scammers message businesses on WhatsApp with urgent trademark renewal or protection demands, charging inflated fees for unnecessary or non-existent services.
Part of: Fake Trademark & IP Invoices
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake trademark invoice scams can arrive over WhatsApp, where a message claiming the company's trademark must be renewed or protected can prompt a hasty payment. The informal channel strips away the official cues a business would expect from a genuine intellectual property authority.
Because the message can quote the company's real trademark, drawn from public registers, it can seem authoritative. The scam relies on the recipient's unfamiliarity with trademark procedures to charge a fee for a service that is unofficial or unnecessary.
How this scam works on WhatsApp
The business receives a WhatsApp message claiming to represent a trademark authority or protection service, asserting that the mark must be renewed, defended, or registered elsewhere. Real trademark details are cited to build credibility.
The sender presents an urgent deadline and provides payment details or a link, often at an inflated fee or for a service that is not official or needed. The chat format pressures prompt payment and discourages verification.
If the business pays, the money funds the operator for a needless service while the genuine trademark position is unaffected. The number can be discarded, leaving little route to recovery.
Common red flags
- A WhatsApp message claiming your trademark is urgently at risk
- Use of your real trademark details from public registers
- Payment details or a link sent directly in chat
- A fee higher than any official charge for the service
- An emphasised deadline pressuring immediate payment
- Official-sounding names implying government authority
How to protect yourself
- Verify any trademark notice with your national IP office directly
- Consult your trademark attorney or agent if you use one
- Compare quoted fees against the official body's published charges
- Treat private register or directory offers as usually unnecessary
- Do not pay based on a chat deadline before confirming the notice
- Keep a record of your genuine renewal dates and representatives
How to report it
- Report the number using WhatsApp's in-app reporting tools
- Report the message to your national intellectual property office
- Notify your bank if a payment was made
Frequently asked questions
A WhatsApp message says our trademark needs urgent renewal. Is it official?
Probably not. Trademark data is public, so scammers can quote your mark to look official, and authorities rarely demand urgent payment over chat. Verify with your national IP office or trademark attorney before paying.