How to Track Your Trademark Status—and Spot a Scam Before It Hits

You’ve finally registered your trademark. Congratulations! But even after your registration certificate arrives, your trademark journey isn’t exactly “set and forget.” Many trademark owners are surprised to find strange-looking letters in the mail, sometimes years later, demanding fees or urgent action. So how do you keep track of your trademark status and know if that letter in your mailbox is legitimate or a scam?

Here’s what you need to know.

1️. Tracking Your Trademark Status: Simple & Free

The official place to track your trademark status in the U.S. is the USPTO’s TSDR system (Trademark Status & Document Retrieval). You can check anytime using your serial number or registration number here.

We recommend checking your status at least twice a year, especially around deadlines. Why? Because while scams are one problem, another serious issue is fraudulent ownership changes. Unfortunately, there have been cases where third parties forged signatures to transfer ownership of trademarks without the true owner’s consent.

Pro tip: When reviewing your trademark status, always double-check that the listed owner is correct and hasn’t changed unexpectedly.

2. Scam Letters: Not Just After Registration

A common time to receive scam letters is around the 5-year mark, when trademark owners need to file their Section 8 Declaration of Use to keep the registration alive. Scammers know this and target you with official-looking letters.

However, scammers also send fake invoices and renewal notices soon after filing, sometimes even before your application is published. Their goal is always the same: to pressure you into paying unnecessary fees.

3. Real Examples of Trademark Scams

Example 1: WTMR 2025 Offer

Demands $980 for “World Trademark Registration.”

Uses official language but is a private company with no legal standing.

Example 2: “Pending Trademark Cancellation” Notice

Claims your trademark is about to expire and asks for $1,090.

Mimics USPTO formatting but is a private service.

A close-up of a document

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You can view more global scam examples in the WIPO’s official warning list here:
👉 WIPO List of Scam Entities

4. How to Tell If It’s a Scam

If you are represented by Cabilly & Co., it’s important to know:
All official trademark correspondence will come through us, not directly from the USPTO.

So, if you receive a letter or email that looks official but didn’t come from our office, that’s your first sign something’s off.

Here are other key checks for detecting trademark scam letters and confirming authentic communications:

✅ Sender address: Official USPTO emails always come from @uspto.gov.

✅ Company name: Many scams use words like “Registry” or “Office” to seem official, but they are private companies.

✅ Check with us: When in doubt, forward the letter to us for verification.

In Summary: Stay Informed and Proactive

Trademark ownership comes with ongoing responsibilities. Regularly monitoring your status through the USPTO’s official system ensures that you catch any issues—whether it’s a legitimate deadline or an unauthorized change—early. Scam letters often look convincing, but by understanding the typical timing (such as around renewal periods) and knowing what genuine USPTO correspondence looks like, you can avoid unnecessary payments or legal complications.

If you are represented by an attorney, official notices will typically be routed through them. It’s a good practice to verify any unexpected mail or emails before taking action. Staying alert and checking your records periodically is the simplest way to protect your trademark from both scams and administrative errors.

Trademarks are valuable assets, and managing them doesn’t end with registration, ongoing attention and regular checks are essential to keep your rights secure.