EUIPO warns users of fake websites
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is warning users against fraudulent websites impersonating its official portal.
The spoofed websites are copying the appearance, logos, and layout of the EUIPO web pages, with the aim of misleading visitors into running unauthorised actions or downloading harmful software.
While the EUIPO has confirmed that official systems and databases remain uncompromised, it has shared guidance for remaining vigilant to suspicious sites and activity.
What to look out for
Genuine security checks, with verification steps such as CAPTCHAs, never ask you to open your operating system's command line, PowerShell, Terminal, or Run dialog. They will never ask you to copy and paste code onto your device either.
The fake sites sit on domains outside of the EUIPO's infrastructure, so always check you are browsing the genuine EUIPO website.
Key recommendations
The EUIPO advises users to:
- Check that the web address ends in ‘.europa.eu’ (for example, euipo.europa.eu)
- Close the tab immediately if the domain looks altered or misspelled, or uses an unfamiliar extension
- Ignore any prompt to paste code or run a command to "verify you are human" or "fix an error"
If you find a website mimicking the EUIPO, or think you've interacted with one, please report it immediately to the EUIPO Customer Department or your local IT security team.
For further information, visit the EUIPO website.