– Gatineau, Quebec
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is warning clients about a recent increase in scam and phishing attempts related to intellectual property (IP) that target business owners. Many of these scams involve someone pretending to be an IP attorney, agency or even CIPO itself. They often pressure you to act quickly and pay a fee, claiming that if you don't, your application or IP rights could be taken away.
Typically sent by email or mail, these communications frequently use official-sounding language, reference public CIPO records, and sometimes even use the words "Canada" or "Canadian" in their branding to appear legitimate.
To learn more, consult CIPO's scam information page for:
- Tips on how to recognize an IP scam or phishing attempt
- Guidance on what to do if you receive a scam notice
- PDF examples of recent scam notices received by CIPO clients