The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) organized the 11th Anti-Scam Network Meeting, an international cooperation mechanism dedicated to preventing and combating fraudulent payment requests in the field of intellectual property. The event brought together approximately 140 participants, representatives of national and regional intellectual property offices from the Member States of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), European and international organizations, user associations, EU candidate countries and national law enforcement authorities. AGEPI was represented at the meeting by Liliana Vieru, Head of the Promotion and International Relations Directorate, and Maria Țurcan, Head of the Finance Directorate.

The meeting aimed to strengthen international cooperation, facilitate the rapid exchange of information and best practices and improve the capacity of institutions to identify and combat fraud schemes targeting intellectual property rightholders and applicants.

Intellectual property fraud – an evolving challenge

Fraudulent payment requests are a persistent problem at international level, causing financial losses for users, confusion about official procedures and fees and risks to trust in the intellectual property protection system.

Fraudsters are constantly adapting their methods, using new technologies, misleading domain names and emails that mimic official communications from intellectual property offices.

A recent example reported by the EUIPO concerns fraudulent messages sent to rightholders and applicants, requesting payment of a supposed registration fee in TMview. EUIPO has clarified that there is no such fee, highlighting the need to verify the authenticity of payment requests before making any financial transfers.

Anti-Scam Network – a mechanism for cooperation and protection of users

The Anti-Scam Network facilitates the rapid exchange of information on fraud attempts, the identification of new methods used and the dissemination of warnings to the intellectual property community. Cooperation between specialized offices, international organizations and law enforcement authorities contributes to the early identification of risks and the coordination of prevention and response measures.

To this end, EUIPO regularly publishes, on a dedicated webpage, examples of fraudulent payment requests reported by users and network members, as well as practical recommendations for recognizing and avoiding fraud attempts. The resource also includes Europol reports on this type of crime.

AGEPI – information and fraud prevention measures

In order to protect applicants and holders of intellectual property rights in the Republic of Moldova, AGEPI has published, in turn, on its official website, an alert regarding false invoices and fraudulent payment requests. The initiative aims to draw users’ attention to the risks associated with these practices and to help them recognize fraud attempts, avoiding financial losses. For more information, access:

Beware of deceptive invoices and fraudulent payment requests.

Through this information measure, AGEPI contributes to the prevention of fraud and to the promotion of prudent behavior in relations with persons or entities requesting payments in connection with the protection of intellectual property rights.

Combating intellectual property fraud requires a joint effort, based on cooperation, prompt information and institutional responsibility. By engaging in international initiatives and through its own awareness-raising actions, AGEPI reaffirms its commitment to protecting users of the intellectual property system in the Republic of Moldova and to contributing to maintaining trust in the rights protection mechanisms.