# How Do You Check Suspicious Calls and Payment Requests About Your Trademark Registration?

> Is an invoice, email or call demanding payment for your trademark official? TÜRKPATENT, WIPO and EUIPO warnings, step-by-step checks and red flags to watch.

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- Last updated: 2026-09-30
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You can tell whether an invoice, email or phone request for payment about your trademark is official by looking at your file, not at the request itself. In its announcement of February 23, 2026, TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) states clearly that it does not call any applicant to demand fees and that it communicates through official correspondence. When you receive a suspicious trademark payment request, the order is: see in EPATS or e-Devlet whether the procedure is really due, compare the amount with the official fee schedule, confirm with your attorney through a channel you already know, and pay no account until you are sure.

Below we cover why these requests arrive, their typical patterns, what the official authorities warn, a step-by-step method for checking, and what to do if you have already paid.

## Why Do These Requests Reach You?

Because trademark information is public. Under Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (SMK) Art. 22(3), the register is open to the public, and applications and registrations are published in the Official Trademark Bulletin. The applicant's name and address, the representation of the mark, its classes and the file number can be seen by anyone in these publications. We explained what the Bulletin contains in our [guide to the Official Trademark Bulletin](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/turkish-official-trademark-bulletin).

The same applies to international registrations: the WIPO Gazette of International Marks is the only official publication of the Madrid System and announces international registrations. Senders take your real file number and dates from these sources, so the fact that your details are correct does not show that the request is official.

The timing is no coincidence either. Requests tend to cluster right after a real event: publication of the application in the Bulletin, entry of the registration in the register, announcement of an international registration in the WIPO Gazette, or the approach of the end of the term of protection. A request that arrives while a real process is under way looks convincing, and that is exactly when the need to check is greatest.

## Typical Patterns of Suspicious Requests

Most requests fit a few familiar patterns. What they have in common is creating the impression of an official obligation and allowing only a short time, so that you pay without thinking:

- **Publication or registration invoice:** An invoice-style offer stating that your trademark has been or will be entered in a "register", "directory" or "database".
- **Early renewal invoice:** A payment request for "renewal" when years remain before the term of protection expires.
- **International registration pitch:** A request, under a name resembling an official body, to place your trademark "under international protection".
- **Pressure by phone:** A hurried call such as "an opposition has been filed against your trademark; if you do not pay today, your mark will lapse".
- **Official appearance:** Logos resembling an authority's emblem, words such as "Office", "Register" or "Institute", and addresses close to a real authority's address.
- **Unusual payment:** A request to pay to a bank account in a foreign country, in an unexpected currency, or in cryptocurrency.

The examples WIPO has published include emails that use real international registration numbers to demand "renewal" fees in euros and ask for payment in Bitcoin.

## What Do the Official Authorities Say?

The warnings of all three authorities come down to the same point: do not pay any request that has not been confirmed through the authority's own channel.

**TÜRKPATENT:** The Office has announced that unauthorized persons presenting themselves as trademark or patent attorneys are calling applicants by phone, and that letters and invoice-like notices giving the impression that they come from the Office are being sent. The steps it recommends are: confirm the status of the file and whether the fee is genuine through the Office's Interactive Information Service; if you are represented by an attorney, ask your attorney; check anyone who claims to be an attorney in the Office's attorney search screen; and, if in doubt, pay no account. Take the Service's contact details only from the Office's official website.

**WIPO:** Its page on misleading invoices for the Madrid System states that these requests do not come from WIPO and have no connection with official publications. By WIPO's criteria, only Swiss francs (CHF) are accepted for Madrid transactions; an invoice in any other currency is not from WIPO. The filing languages of Madrid are English, French and Spanish. WIPO's official email addresses use only the "wipo.int" domain, though it also stresses that addresses can be spoofed. WIPO has also announced that the phone number of its New York office has been misused to collect information or request payment; in other words, a genuine-looking caller number is not a safeguard on its own either.

**EUIPO:** The European Union Intellectual Property Office states that it does not send its users invoices or letters requesting direct payment, that it uses only the bank accounts announced on its own page, and it publishes examples of misleading invoices in a searchable list.

## Genuine Notices Arrive Too: How Do You Tell the Difference?

Not every email is fake. TÜRKPATENT sends automatic reminder emails to applicants and attorneys one month before the deadline for paying the registration fee and for trademark and design renewals. According to the Office's announcement, these emails do not replace formal service; time limits run according to formal service and the time limits in the Law.

The difference lies in where and how payment is made. Official fees are paid through the Office's official channels, linked to the file number; we described the payment steps in detail in our article on [when and how the registration fee is paid](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/unpaid-trademark-registration-fee). Rather than clicking a link in an email, logging in to EPATS or e-Devlet yourself and opening your file is the safest way to tell the two apart.

## A Step-by-Step Method for Checking

Whatever channel the request comes through, follow the order below. None of the steps should be carried out using the link, phone number or account number given in the request:

1. **Find the file:** Note the application or registration number in the request and open your file yourself in EPATS or e-Devlet; we explained what each screen shows in our article on [tracking trademarks through e-Devlet](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/e-devlet-trademark-search-and-status-tracking).
2. **Look for the procedure:** Is there really a pending registration fee notice, opposition entry or renewal period in the file? Under SMK Art. 23, renewal is made within the six months before the term of protection expires, so a "renewal" invoice arriving shortly after registration gives itself away.
3. **Compare the amount:** Every official fee has a fee code in the TÜRKPATENT fee schedule. A "publication" or "registration" charge with no counterpart in the schedule is not an official fee.
4. **Check the payment channel:** A request to pay a "fee" into an individual's or a company's account, outside the Office's official channel, is the strongest warning sign.
5. **Verify the person:** If the person calling or writing says they are an attorney, check whether they are listed in the TÜRKPATENT register of attorneys.
6. **Ask your attorney through a known channel:** Use the phone number or email recorded in your contract or earlier correspondence.
7. **If you cannot be sure, do not pay:** All official time limits can be seen in your file; if there is a real deadline, you will find it there.

## Differences Between an Official Request and a Suspicious One

| Criterion | Official process | Suspicious request |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Counterpart in the file | Visible in EPATS | Not in the file |
| Amount | Has a fee code in the schedule | No counterpart in the schedule |
| Where to pay | The Office's official channel | Personal, company or foreign account |
| Phone | The Office does not call to demand fees | A call that rushes you |
| Madrid fee | Only CHF to WIPO | Euros, dollars or crypto |

## Red Flag Checklist

Even one of the following is enough reason to stop and verify before paying:

- Payment demanded the same day, or a warning that "your mark will lapse if you do not pay today".
- An "invoice" for a service you never applied for.
- A name or logo very similar, but not identical, to an authority's.
- Small print at the bottom saying something like "this is an offer".
- A sender email address that does not match the authority's domain.
- A request for your e-Devlet password, card details or a photo of your ID.
- An "opposition" or "refusal" notice your attorney knows nothing about.

## What to Look for in Madrid and EU-Related Requests

A Madrid application filed from Turkey involves two separate payments. TÜRKPATENT's fee for transmitting the international application to WIPO is TRY 3,850 in the 2026 schedule (fee code 02.01.19); current amounts should be checked in the TÜRKPATENT fee schedule. WIPO fees are paid separately, in Swiss francs and by WIPO's own payment methods. You can look up the expiry date of your international registration and its status in the designated countries in Madrid Monitor free of charge.

A genuine provisional refusal from a foreign Office is not an invoice demanding payment; it is a notification of a decision, with grounds and a time limit for response. We explained how to read one in our [guide to Madrid provisional refusals](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/responding-to-a-madrid-provisional-refusal).

## What Should You Do If You Have Already Paid?

Time is the most important factor; take the following steps without delay:

1. **Call your bank immediately:** Ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed, and request the transaction receipt.
2. **Keep the evidence:** Email, letter, envelope, call log, phone number and receipt.
3. **Go to the official channels:** File a complaint with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office or the police; the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER) is also a general channel for applications.
4. **Report it to the authority:** If the request was made in TÜRKPATENT's name, report it to the Office; if in the name of WIPO or EUIPO, use the reporting channel on that authority's page.
5. **Inform your attorney:** So that no deadline is missed if a procedure really is due in the file.

## Set Up a Simple Approval Rule in Your Company

Suspicious requests often reach accounting or a general email address rather than the person responsible for trademarks. That is why the most effective safeguard is organizational, not technical. A few simple rules prevent payment mistakes:

- **One person in charge:** All trademark, patent and design correspondence is handled by a single person or unit.
- **Portfolio list:** Each mark's number, registration date, expiry of protection and attorney's contact details in a single table.
- **Payment approval:** No invoice bearing a trademark name is paid without checking the status of the file.
- **Awareness:** Accounting and switchboard staff know that TÜRKPATENT does not call to demand fees.

If you work with an attorney, put in writing in your contract through which channel, and in whose name, notices will be forwarded to you; we discussed why this matters in our article on [choosing a trademark registration firm](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-choose-a-trademark-registration-firm). This table lets you answer within seconds when a request arrives: if no procedure is pending in the file, the request is not genuine either.

## What to Do About Requests in Webx's Name

If you suspect a payment request bearing our name or logo, do not use the phone, email or account details in the message; confirm it by reaching us only through the channels on our [contact page](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/iletisim). The same rule applies to every attorney and firm you work with: verification is done through a channel you already know, not the one given by the sender of the request.

## Common Mistakes

- **Treating a correct file number as proof:** The number is public.
- **Standing payment instructions for accounting:** No invoice bearing a trademark name should be paid without approval from the legal or trademark lead.
- **Logging in through a link in an email:** Always access official systems by typing the address yourself.
- **Staying quiet out of embarrassment:** Reporting helps authorities update their warning lists and protects others.

## Fictional Example: The "Renewal" Invoice Sent to Mavera Tekstil

Fictional example: "Mavera Tekstil" receives an email in English eight months after its trademark is registered. The email states the real registration number and demands payment in euros for an "international renewal" to a foreign account within 15 days. While accounting prepares the payment, the company's trademark lead opens the file in EPATS: more than eight years remain until protection expires, and the company has no Madrid registration at all. The lead reaches the company's attorney on the number in their contract, and the attorney confirms that the request is not official. The company does not pay, keeps the email and introduces an internal approval rule for suspicious requests.

## Why Does Monitoring Your File Regularly Pay Off?

A trademark owner who knows the current status of their file spots a fake request on first reading. A [trademark watch](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-izleme) service keeps that knowledge at hand by reporting regularly on similar applications and developments in your file. If you are planning a new application, learning in writing at the outset of the [trademark registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-tescil) process which official fee will be requested at which stage provides the same protection. To make an annual file check a routine, you can use our [annual IP audit](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/annual-ip-audit-for-companies) checklist.

## Sources

- [TÜRKPATENT — Public Warning on Fraud (February 23, 2026)](https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/duyurular/dolandiricilik-konusunda-kamuoyunun-dikkatine-23022026) (the Office does not call to demand fees; recommended verification steps)
- [TÜRKPATENT — Automatic notifications for registration fees and renewals](https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/duyurular/marka-tescil-ucreti-odeme-ile-marka-ve-tasarim-yenileme-taleplerine-iliskin-otomatik-bildirimler-baslatildi) (reminder email one month before the deadline; does not replace formal service)
- [TÜRKPATENT — Trademark Fees](https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/marka-islem-ucretleri) (official fee items and their codes)
- [Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (SMK) — mevzuat.gov.tr](https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.5.6769.pdf) (Art. 22(3) public nature of the register, Art. 23 term of protection and renewal)
- [WIPO — Warning: Requests for Payment of Fees – Misleading Invoices](https://www.wipo.int/en/web/madrid-system/fees/invoices) (Madrid System misleading invoice warning and examples)
- [WIPO — Scam Warning](https://www.wipo.int/en/web/paying-for-ip-services/scam-warning) (recognizing fake calls and emails; the "wipo.int" domain)
- [EUIPO — Misleading invoices](https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/trade-marks/after-applying/misleading-invoices) (EUIPO does not send invoices requesting direct payment; list of examples)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Should I throw away the suspicious email or letter?

No, keep it before deleting anything. File the full email, the sender's address and any attachment, and the envelope and contents of a letter. Even if you have not paid, these documents let you compare them with a similar request that arrives later and are useful when reporting to the authority. Do not click the links in it, and make sure of the source before opening any attachments.

### If the caller knows my file number and filing date correctly, is the request genuine?

No. The application number, date, owner's name, address and classes are public information in the register and the Bulletin. The fact that someone states this information correctly does not show that they are authorized. The way to establish whether a request is genuine is to find the procedure they describe in your own file and, if you have an attorney, to confirm with them on a number you already know.

### Is it illegal to sign up for a private "trademark directory" or "international trademark register" service?

Not all such services are unlawful; but none of them is an official registration or publication, and none gives your trademark legal protection. The problem is that the request is presented as if it were an official obligation. If you genuinely want a service, arrange it through a contract rather than an invoice, with a party whose identity you have verified, and knowing what you are buying.

### I received a "renewal" invoice in English from abroad; does my trademark really need renewing?

First check which mark it refers to: a Turkish registration, a Madrid international registration or an EU trademark? For a Turkish mark, check the term of protection in EPATS; for an international registration, check the expiry date in Madrid Monitor. If the renewal period has not arrived, or the amount is demanded in euros or cryptocurrency to a foreign account, the request is not official.

### How do I check if a caller says "an opposition has been filed against your trademark"?

Under SMK Art. 18, an opposition against publication is filed with the Office within two months of the application's publication in the Bulletin, and it appears as an entry in your file. Under Art. 19, the Office asks the applicant for observations on the opposition; the process runs by submitting observations to the Office, not by paying a third party. Open your file in EPATS and ask your attorney if you have one; give the caller neither information nor payment.

### If the suspicious request comes from a trademark attorney, where can I complain?

According to TÜRKPATENT's announcement, a complaint can be filed with the Disciplinary Board of Patent and Trademark Attorneys about persons who are trademark or patent attorneys but whose conduct breaches the professional rules. First check in the Office's attorney search screen whether the person is actually a registered attorney; if not, the matter is not one of discipline but a direct suspicion of fraud.

## Related Resources

- [Trademark Watch](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-izleme): Covers monitoring similar applications published in the Official Trademark Bulletin and reporting them before the opposition period ends.
- [Trademark Registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-tescil): Explains how a trademark application is handled before TÜRKPATENT, from the preliminary search and class selection to the registration certificate.
- [How to Search and Track Your Trademark on e-Devlet](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/e-devlet-trademark-search-and-status-tracking): How to search for a trademark on e-Devlet: viewing marks in your name, tracking application status, the TÜRKPATENT search screen, and reading the results.
- [The Turkish Official Trademark Bulletin: How to Read and Monitor It](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/turkish-official-trademark-bulletin): What the Turkish Official Trademark Bulletin publishes, the two-month opposition period, notice by publication and how to read INID codes (210, 220, 540, 731).
- [When Is the Trademark Registration Fee Paid in Turkey, and What If It Is Not?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/unpaid-trademark-registration-fee): An unpaid trademark registration fee in Turkey ends the application. The 2026 fee is TRY 7,010, due in two months; underpayment and refiling costs explained.
- [Annual IP Audit for Companies: Trademarks, Patents and Designs](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/annual-ip-audit-for-companies): How to run an annual IP audit: the inventory table, trademark, design and patent deadlines, 2026 TÜRKPATENT fee items and a quarter-by-quarter audit calendar.
- [What Should You Do If Your Madrid Application Receives a Provisional Refusal?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/responding-to-a-madrid-provisional-refusal): What does a Madrid provisional refusal mean? Refusal periods, reading the notification, response deadlines, limitation and grant statements; Madrid Monitor.
- [How to Choose a Trademark Registration Firm: 12 Questions to Ask First](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-choose-a-trademark-registration-firm): Choosing a trademark registration firm in Turkey: check the attorney register, separate official and service fees, oppositions, notices and red flags.