Some are fairly obvious (I'm a Nigerian Prince, I swear!), some are more stealthy (photo radar tickets, for example) and some are blatantly and unabashedly illegal (phishing emails and identity theft).
Here's an example of one that's kinda like the photo radar ticket scam. While it's completely technically "legal", it relies upon deceptive practices to cloak a completely unfounded and unenforceable "threat".
This one targets people who hold a registered trademark, such as yours truly. The NICOclub.com url, company name, mark and logo are trademarked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and of course, all that info is public record (just like a mortgage).
So, I receive this very official-looking document in the mail:
Reading through it, please note the very "official" sounding language, the threatening use of the words "deadline" and "NOW DUE" and the meaningless (but effective) use of bar codes, serial numbers, and even the nefarious use of actual US government entity names. They even include the name of the mark and the trademark registration number, and even the original trademark filing date (this is public information available on the USPTO Web site).
They purport to offer a "service", either trademark monitoring and document filing (which really aren't a "service" at all). In fact, the United States Patent and Trademark Office doesn't even provide such services, because they're unnecessary.
Now, there's a disclaimer at the bottom (you know, the part of the document most people never read). That's there SOLELY to protect the scammer's butt from legal action.
The BACK of the document explains their insidiuous little racket much more thoroughly... again, as if anyone reads the back of such documents...
Just like photo radar tickets (please, let's not get into a discussion of those here - we can do so in another thread), the scammer counts on the trademark holder (who is likely a very busy person) not even reading the document...
More likely, it's some administrative assistant (who doesn't know a scam from shineola) who checks the mail, and ALSO just happens to handle all of the business owner's bills. So, they cut a check for $375, throw it in the mail, and no one's the wiser. The scam company doesn't actually have to DO anything (again, read the fine print), but they're $375 richer.
The address (633 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA) is a "virtual office" - This means SCAM.
http://www.davincivirtual.com/loc/us/ca ... lity-1026/
In fact, here's a look at all the other "scammers" using that same VIRTUAL office: https://www.google.com/search?ix=hcb&so ... 28th+floor
For $150 a month, the scammer gets a "prestigious" downtown LA address, a phone number (which goes straight to a very "official-sounding" voicemail), and instant legitimacy with anyone who doesn't take the time and effort to pay attention.
Ripoff Report: http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/Unit ... ffice.aspx
You can read more on trademark scams by simply searching for "trademark scams" on Google: https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en#scli ... 062203532d
So, to the "United States Trademark Registration Office": Screw you, die in a fire, and I hope you spend all your ill-gotten funds on STD-infested Thai hookers and cyanide-laced Mexican cocaine.
Really - You suck.
