That Patent & Trademark Office Letter in Your Mail? It Might Be Fake

Today I got a letter in the mail that looked like it came from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It had all of my pertinent information, an official looking letterhead form, and a demand for $1,170 to “renew” my registered service mark. Here’s the problem: I’m pretty sure it’s a scam. And I want other business owners to know about it before they possibly get fooled.

The Backstory

I registered The Spirited Traveler as a trademark in 2022. If you’ve ever gone through the USPTO process, you know you don’t hear from them for years after your registration goes through. Usually around the 7–8 year mark to confirm you’re still using your mark, and then again at the 10-year mark for your first renewal.

I’m only three years in, so this letter instantly raised my eyebrows.

The Red Flags

1. The business name is wrong. It said “Patent & Trademark Office” instead of “U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.” I’ve never received official USPTO correspondence without the “U.S.” in the name.
2. The timing was off. The USPTO wouldn’t be contacting me about a renewal this early.
3. The amount was outrageous. They wanted $1,170! This is way more than the real renewal fee of about $225. (I didn’t even pay that much to file in the first place, and I used a lawyer.)
4. The letter quality was terrible. The paper and printing looked like they came from a home or a dot matrix printer, not an official government office. I’ve received real USPTO documents before, and this wasn’t it.

What I Did

I trusted my gut and did my own research. Sure enough, the USPTO clearly states on its website that it will never ask for payment to a third-party address. The address on this letter, and on the return envelope, is not the USPTO address.

These companies mimic official agencies to trick trademark owners into sending money for unnecessary or fake “services.”

Pro tip: Check the Maintenance section of your registered trademark on the USPTO site. It will list your declaration due dates so you’ll know exactly when action is required.

How to Protect Yourself

• Verify the timing. If it’s not close to your 7–8 year filing anniversary, be suspicious.
• Check the fee amount. The real USPTO renewal fees are much lower and listed on USPTO.gov.
• Look for signs of cheap printing or sloppy formatting. Real government mailings follow strict formatting.
• Never pay from a letter alone. Always confirm through your official USPTO account.

If you get a letter like this, don’t panic. And definitely don’t pay. Go straight to the official USPTO site to confirm your status.

Scammers count on you reacting quickly without double-checking. Let’s prove them wrong. Share this with every business owner you know so no one gets got.