SECURITY

BPCA is urging members to stay alert following reports of suspicious emails targeting pest management companies.

Trademark issues

A member recently received an email purporting to be from Knighton Legal Services Ltd, claiming that their business name was at risk of being trademarked by another company. The email used the subject line: "Legal Notice on Business Name and Domain Conflict".

The message claimed that another party was preparing to register the recipient's business name as a trademark and demanded a response within 48 hours.

The email also offered to file a trademark application on the business's behalf if they acted immediately.

After some digging by our Marketing and Technology Manager, Scott Johnstone, this looks dubious.

He said, "Pressure tactics like this are common, designed to create a sense of urgency and encourage businesses to pay for unnecessary services.

"If you're ever concerned about your business name or trademark rights, check directly with the UK Intellectual Property Office. Never rely solely on unsolicited legal threats sent by email."

Another company raising concerns

Members have also reported receiving emails from a company called Nuigo, claiming that "business profiles have already been created and are live on its platform".

The platform in question appears to be offering lead generation services, similar to our own Find a pest controller tool or Checkatrade.

The emails encourage businesses to complete their profiles in order to receive service requests through the site.

After reviewing the email and the website, BPCA has concerns about its transparency, plus the lack of physical address, no company registration details, no social media presence and no customer reviews.

It also appears that pest control companies may have been added to the platform without their knowledge or consent, with profiles seemingly created using information gathered from publicly available websites.

Stay vigilant

If you receive unsolicited emails claiming there is an urgent issue with your business name, website or online profile:

• Don't click links or provide payment details
• Verify claims using official sources
• Be cautious of high-pressure deadlines
• Contact BPCA if you're unsure whether something is genuine.

Scammers regularly target small businesses by creating urgency and confusion. Taking a few minutes to check the facts can help protect your business and your money.