I had an invention I wanted to get off the ground but didn't know how to start. I called the Inventor's Helpline that is advertised on T.V. And was conned by a number of people who talked up my invention like it was God's Gift and eventually ended up with a file in Patent & Trademark Institute for my awesome invention that will, "no doubt, make us all tons of money".
They took $895.00 for a patent search, legal issues and a portfolio. I was then to send $5000.00 for a "provisional patent" as I couldn't afford the full patent. I have since found out there is no such thing as a provisional patent and it cost no where near what they were charging to do a search and get a patent.
Luckily, I got wind of the trouble and only got ripped off for the $895, but I am a mom of 5 and that is a lot of money to me:- (
I still have a lot of investigating to do, but I did read on one website that this Inventor's Helpline can only actually document 1 person that ever made money from their invention through them. I sure wish I had done more research before I sent them any money.
0 comments