Law firm and regulator warn of a sharp rise in fraudulent trade mark emails posing as solicitors
A spike in highly convincing scam emails impersonating real solicitors has prompted fresh warnings to businesses and trademark owners, after regulators recorded a surge in alerts linked to fraudulent trademark filings.
City law firm Ashurst said it has seen a growing number of scam emails claiming that a third party is about to file, or has already filed, a UK trade mark application identical or similar to the recipient’s brand. The messages typically urge recipients to “act now” to prevent losing their rights.
According to Ashurst, the emails are carefully constructed to appear legitimate. In some cases, recipients are directed to professional-looking but fraudulent websites, while others are asked to disclose trademark information that could later be exploited for further criminal activity.
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Ashurst said the scams rely on impersonation fraud, using what it described as “circular legitimacy”. The emails, websites and supposed professional profiles are designed to cross-reference one another to create a convincing appearance of authenticity.
While the messages often use the names or Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) registration details of genuine solicitors, Ashurst stressed that those individuals have no connection to the communications and are themselves victims of identity misuse.
The SRA’s own data supports the warning. The regulator has issued 11 scam alerts in the past six weeks alone, all relating to trademark emails misusing the names of real solicitors or law firms.
Ashurst said the emails frequently refer to the UK’s ‘first to file’ trade mark system and warn of severe consequences if the recipient fails to respond. These may include forced rebranding, removal from online platforms or exposure to infringement claims.
The firm added that the tone of the messages is deliberately urgent and binary, presenting recipients with a stark choice between authorising immediate action or facing serious commercial consequences. Links embedded within the emails often direct recipients to legitimate websites, such as the SRA or the Law Society, alongside fabricated process pages hosted on convincing-looking domains. These links are intended to reinforce trust, even though the sender and the alleged trade mark filing are not genuine.
Some versions of the scam attempt to extract identity documents, powers of attorney or payment details. Others request trademark specifications and details of intended goods and services, information which Ashurst warned could later be used in phishing attacks or invoice fraud.
Ashurst advised recipients not to respond to the emails, click on links or open attachments. Businesses uncertain about the legitimacy of a message were urged to independently verify the sender and, where they already have legal advisers, to ask them to check directly with the UK Intellectual Property Office whether any genuine filings have been made.