Santiago Nieto, director general of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), announced a complaint to the Attorney General's Office for the illegal use of the institute's name and logo on a fraudulent website offering trademark services. This impersonation worsens the issue by mimicking an authority tasked with fighting such practices. The case underscores the growing risks of cybercrimes in Mexico.
The director general of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), Santiago Nieto, has filed a formal complaint with the Attorney General's Office (FGR) against a company impersonating the institute. The fraudulent website, with the domain 'registrodemarcasimpi.com', uses the official IMPI name and logo to offer trademark registration services, pretending to be the agency or endorsed by it.
According to Nieto, this impersonation not only misuses official identifiers without permission but also lacks a privacy notice, facilitating deception. The site sends urgent emails to users, pressuring them to pay to avoid losing trademark rights, exploiting public data from real IMPI filings.
This type of cyber fraud, known as phishing, has grown exponentially in Mexico, impacting individuals and businesses by eroding trust in the digital system. The aggravating factor is that the IMPI is the authority responsible for protecting intellectual property and combating piracy. Nieto stressed that ignoring such cases would amount to complicity, urging the FGR to act swiftly by tracing involved bank accounts.
Similar fake websites and social media profiles have proliferated, preying on the good faith of those unfamiliar with official registration processes. The complaint aims to send a clear message of respect for intellectual property and dismantle unfair competition networks. So far, no details on the perpetrators have been reported, but authorities expect results soon to prevent further victims.