Unsolicited emails and other scams

Skip to content Skip to search Skip to main navigation

Caution:

Fraudulent emails are being sent to some of our clients. These messages are scams and may include links claiming misuse of IP. Do not respond, click any links, or engage with the sender unless you have verified their identity.

Visit our scams page
Close
Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand

Unsolicited emails and other scams

Some businesses are receiving unsolicited emails that may be scams. If you receive these emails, do not engage with the sender.

We've recently been made aware of unsolicited emails being sent to businesses from individuals or organisations pretending to be:

  • legitimate law firms
  • legal service providers
  • intellectual property (IP) attorneys.

These emails are not genuine and are part of a scam. 

Types of email scam claims

These emails can make different claims.

One example is a fraudulent email purporting to be from a New Zealand law firm claims that a business has infringed copyright and demands action within a short timeframe. The email includes a link or attachment containing supposed evidence and pressures the recipient to respond, remove content, or provide confirmation.

The entity may:

  • claim that the recipient is using copyrighted material on their website without the proper consent.
  • ask you to respond to the email within a short period of time.
  • send you a link to a Microsoft Excel document titled “Evidence Package”.

Example of unsolicited email communications [PDF, 104 KB]

Another example is a third party has enquired about registering their business name as a trade mark. The email then urges the recipient to respond and secure their IP rights before the third-party filing proceeds.

The entity may:

  • claim that an applicant intends to register your business name as a trade mark.
  • ask you to respond to the email within a short period of time.
  • ask you to complete a trade mark application form using a website outside of IPONZ’s case management facility.
  • send you false documentation or correspondence purporting to be from IPONZ.
  • ask you to make payment using a non-secure website that is not affiliated with IPONZ.

Example of unsolicited email communications [PDF, 742 KB]

Example of false IPONZ correspondence [PDF, 363 KB]

If you have replied to these emails or made any payments:

  • Please contact us via email at so that we can see if any trade mark applications have been filed under your ownership.
  • We recommend you contact your bank or credit card company as soon as possible to discuss these payments and protect your accounts.

mail@iponz.govt.nz 

If you have received these emails, or any other unsolicited communication about IP protection, do not engage with the sender. This is especially important if the email is pressuring you to respond quickly or take any other action.

Tips for checking legitimacy of email communications

  • Check the sender’s address. Is it from a legitimate firm or a generic account such as gmail.com?
  • Is the firm a legitimate firm and the sender a recorded staff member on their website?
  • Does the contact address or email match the firm’s website?
  •  Is any sender purporting to be a register lawyer registered with the New Zealand Law Society or the trans-Tasman Patent Attorney Register?

Find a lawyer — New Zealand law Society

Find an IP attorney or firm — Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney Register

If you have any doubts about a communication you have received, you can contact us via email or your IP professional to verify its authenticity.

mail@iponz.govt.nz

The Consumer Protection website also provides information on how to recognise, avoid and report scams from unsolicited communications.

Scamwatch — Consumer Protection

Top