I was practically jumping with joy.
A few weeks ago I applied for a trademark for “The TrueWealth Way.” This is the name assigned to the intellectual property unveiled in my upcoming book and workbook about how physicians can construct wealth-building engines.
Moments earlier my phone rang. My phone identified the caller as the USPTO. How exciting to get an update from The United States Patent and Trademark Office! I picked up the call.
The caller identified herself as a USTPO Verification Officer. She said that pending the verification of information on my application, my trademark had been approved. She walked me through items on the application form, and even changed my address.
She said, “Congratulations. You are welcome to use the TM symbol on your materials. The final approval with take a few months, and then you can use another mark. All I need to complete the verification is to collect the $25 fee which I can take over the phone. Would you like to use Visa, Mastercard or American Express?”
I told her, “I don’t give out my credit card information over the phone. Could you please direct me to the place on the USTPO site I could go to pay this fee.”
She said, “We can only take the payment over the phone, and it needs to be done in the next two days if you want to move forward with the application.”
I said, “I’m sorry but I will not do that. You could be a scammer.”
She said, “Look at your phone. It says the caller is the USTPO. Look at the phone number listed on the USTPO web site. This call is originating from that number.”
I thanked her and hung up.
I called the person who filed my trademark application who said, “I’m glad you checked. The USTPO will never call you. You did the right thing by hanging up.”
I was no longer jumping for joy.
Yet another scam. Fortunately I did the right thing by not disclosing my credit card information.
On my cynical days I think that the right thing is never answering my phone!
Physicians worry about theft and fraud. They are targeted by scammers. You can deliver value by offering tips about how they can keep themselves safe from financial predators.