Feds warn of solicitations aimed at small businesses

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. — Federal regulators are issuing a warning about a string of suspicious mailings aimed at small businesses.

A Douglas County businessman got one and called consumer investigator Jim Strickland.

"Somebody's making a lot of money," said Todd Cook,  owner of Escape Spa in Villa Rica.

He trademarked the name with the government, and soon after came an official looking letter.  It asked $992 dollars to protect the name online.

"This looks like something that a business would go,"Oh $1,000 dollars.  I got it.'"

The solicitor, an outfit called TM-DB, is among those highlighted in a government Youtube video. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office together a mock newscast about what they call Solicitationgate.%

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"And soon her mail box was filled with these solicitations, all from private companies not affiliated with the USPTO; all of them asking Sarah to pay money for various services," said an announcer referring to a business owner who had complained about the solicitations.  The feds say paying is a mistake.

"Fifty cents for a letter to be mailed out and somebody sends 'em close to a thousand dollars.   That's a nice profit," said Cook.

"They're making a lot of money and they're not being shut down.  Someone in the United States needs to make a stand."

The solicitation includes an email address.  Strickland sent a message seeking comment but received no response.

Cox Media Group