Thanks Martin, It’s very helpful to be warned about things like this – one of the many benefits of a supportive network! I agree with all your reasons, which show that a healthy scepticism, some common sense and basic research are the best protection against scams. For my part I usually google the name of any company that has sent something I am suspicious of and add the word ‘scam’ to the search term. In this case, this quickly brought up an article circulated in Ireland by a legit organisation warning that this is indeed a scam: https://www.aptma.ie/news-and-events/beware-of-scam-emails Trust Pilot reviews for the company are also all 1-star and agree that it’s completely bogus. Stay vigilant Friends! In Friendship, Sarah Sarah Donaldson Executive Officer Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS [FMH - telephone smaller]0161 834 5797 [FMH - twitter smaller] @FriendsMtgHouse<https://twitter.com/FriendsMtgHouse> [FMH - facebook smaller] /FriendsMeetingHouseManchester<https://www.facebook.com/FriendsMeetingHouseManchester> [FMH - website smaller] meetinghousemanchester.co.uk<http://www.meetinghousemanchester.co.uk/> [FMH email signature image] Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) | Registered Charity No: 1172087 Quaker Trading (Manchester & Warrington) Limited | Registered in England No: 03094920 | Registered Address 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS [cid:image006.png@01D967B4.D7069F90] From: Martin Lacey <office@norwichquakers.org.uk> Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 10:21 AM To: Quaker Wardenship Support <wardenship@lists.quaker.eu.org> Subject: [wardenship] Fwd: Trademark registration for Norwich Quakers Dear Wardens and Building Managers, Norwich Quakers have received what appears to be a scam email and I would like to warn this group in case others receive it as well. Please see the forwarded email below. My reasoning is thus: 1) The registration and approval of trademarks is overseen by a branch of the UKIPO (United Kingdom Intellectual Property Organisation https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office ) called the UK Trade Mark Registry. 2) The correspondent has left no traceable contact details (UK phone number, business address). 3) The correspondent requires an abnormally quick response. 4) A placename and descriptive title cannot be trademarked (my business name Norfolk Cleaning Services for example cannot be trademarked). 5) The correspondent is acting as the registering authority and not a registry agent who would liaise between a business owner and the government agency listed above. 6) In paragraph 3 they claim we're the first registrant (we're not registered), but in para 4 we can register to prevent the other "registrant"...? Be warned, be wary! Martin Lacey Building Manager Norwich Local Quaker Meeting Upper Goat Lane Norwich NR2 1EW -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Trademark registration for Norwich Quakers Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2023 10:25:44 +0000 From: IPR Protection <info@ipr-protection.com><mailto:info@ipr-protection.com> Reply-To: IPR Protection <info@ipr-protection.com><mailto:info@ipr-protection.com> To: office@norwichquakers.org.uk<mailto:office@norwichquakers.org.uk> <office@norwichquakers.org.uk><mailto:office@norwichquakers.org.uk> Dear Sir/Madam, Yesterday we received an application for the trademark registration of Norwich Quakers. This application was not filed by you or your company, but by a third party, as we observed from the application forms. During our screening, we noticed that you have a similar company name, but in a different sector. Given the fact that your company was the first to be registered, you have the first option of registering this brand name. If you would rather not have the other party use this brand name, please let us know. In that case, you can register the trademark for yourself. If you want to register the trademark in the UK, the costs are £550.00 excluding VAT. Your registration will be processed within 24 hours. An European (£1249.00) or international registration (£1775.00) is also available. Please let me know within three business days whether you wish to make use of this offer. If you do not respond or are not interested, we will approve the other party's application, which means that they will obtain the trademark rights to Norwich Quakers. Kind regards, Jack Walsh IPR Protection www.ipr-protection.com<http://www.ipr-protection.com> [https://app.ipr-protection.com/frontend/assets/files/customer/xc811sktz63e5/...] This message is exclusively intended for the addressee(s) mentioned above. It is not permitted to distribute, copy or provide this information to third parties. The contents of this message and any attachments are confidential and intended for use only by the person or entity addressed. The information is not legally binding, nor can any rights be derived from it or can any liability or obligation for IPR Protection arise from it. If you have received this message (including attachment(s)) in error, you can unsubscribe<https://app.ipr-protection.com/index.php/campaigns/xv492kxc2lb38/track-url/a...> here and you will not receive any updates about this trademark registration.
