Collection

Fraud warnings and guidance

Information on recognising and protecting yourself from IP-related fraud and payment scams.

• From: Intellectual Property Office
• Published: 5 September 2014
• Last updated: 21 May 2026 — See all updates

If in doubt, rights owners should check with their patent or trade mark attorney, solicitor, patent advisor or inventor-support organisation. Alternatively contact us on 0300 300 2000.

Content

• Companies House and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) join forces to warn about unsolicited payment requests
  • 21 May 2026
  • News story
• Recognising and reporting scam e-mails
  • 30 May 2025
  • Guidance
• IPO issues fresh warning to beware of misleading invoices
  • 12 September 2024
  • News story
• Avoiding misleading payment requests
  • 10 October 2025
  • Guidance
• IP scammers face record financial liability
  • 10 November 2015
  • Press release
• Intellectual Property Office succeeds in passing off claim
  • 18 August 2014
  • News story

Published 5 September 2014

Last updated 21 May 2026 + show all updates

1. 21 May 2026

   Companies House and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) join forces to warn about unsolicited payment requests added.

2. 16 May 2025

   Recognising and reporting scam e-mails added to collection.

3. 30 July 2024

   IPO issues fresh warning to beware of misleading invoices added.

4. 6 October 2020

   Guidance: Avoiding misleading payment requests added.

5. 28 January 2016

   News story for Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Adjudication has been published.

6. 2 December 2015

   Warning: Intellectual Property Office alerted to new renewal scam - story added.

7. 16 November 2015

   Press release added.

8. 31 December 2014

   News story for Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Adjudications has been published.

9. 10 December 2014

   News story: - Warning: Fraudulent invoices - added to collection.

10. 5 September 2014

    First published.