With a recent a rise in intellectual property scam emails targeting New Zealand businesses, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) and Consumer Protection have issued an urgent alert about a rising scam targeting businesses nationwide. Sophisticated fraudulent emails are being sent to business owners, attempting to appear legitimate.

What's Happening:

Scammers are sending fraudulent emails claiming that a third party is attempting to register your business name as a trademark. These deceptive messages may appear to come from fake law firms such as:

• NRH Legal Services
• Ormand Law
• Other entities impersonating legitimate IP attorneys

Red flags to watch for:

These scam emails typically:

• Create false urgency by claiming someone is about to register your business name
• Pressure you to respond quickly
• Direct you to fake websites that mimic official IPONZ services
• Request payments through non-secure, unofficial channels
• Include false documentation purporting to be from IPONZ

Your action plan:

If you recieve a suspicious IP related email:

• Do not engage with the sender 
• Do not click any links or make any payments
• Report suspicious emails to [email protected]

Verify before you trust:

When in doubt about any IP-related communication, contact IPONZ directly.

Learn more about spotting scams on Consumer Protection’s Scamwatch and on IPONZ Updates. Legitimate IP offices and attorneys will never pressure you into immediate action. Stay vigilant and help protect others by sharing this alert.