Headhunters or Head-Fakes? Spear-Phishing Campaigns Targeting IP Practitioners
Luring with AI Patent Work
The generative AI boom has triggered a modern gold rush, and where there is gold, there are claim jumpers.
For the intellectual property community, the rise of foundational models has created an exhilarating new frontier. We are seeing a massive spike in demand for specialized counsel—professionals who can navigate the murky waters of model training data, navigate the shifting sands of Alice under the lens of machine learning, and secure foundational IP for pre-IPO unicorns.
But this demand has birthed a darker trend: highly targeted, sophisticated spear-phishing campaigns aimed specifically at you—the patent attorneys and IP strategists building the legal frameworks of the future.
The “Perfect” Opportunity
Recently, reports have surfaced of a recruitment scam targeting patent consultants and attorneys with a background in high-tech portfolios. The pitch is enticingly specific.
Candidates receive an email regarding an “AI Patent Strategy Lead” role at a “venture-backed AI research lab.”
The job description checks every box for an ambitious IP professional:
Developing global patent strategy for novel AI models.
Working directly with research scientists to capture invention.
Pre-IPO equity stakes.
A focus on licensing and competitive analysis.
It reads like a career-defining role at an Anthropic, a Cohere, or a Databricks. But the offer is a mirage.
Anatomy of the Scam
Unlike the clumsy “Dear Sir/Madam” spam of the past, these bad actors are doing their homework. This is spear-phishing—precision targeting based on public data.
In a recent case reviewed by this blog, the email explicitly referenced the candidate’s specific background at a well-known patent consulting firm. This localized detail lowers the recipient’s guard, creating a false sense of familiarity and legitimacy.
However, the cracks in the façade appear upon closer inspection—the kind of due diligence we preach to our clients but occasionally forget to apply to our own inboxes.
1. The “Free Agent” Email Address:
The correspondence originated from careergenius5@gmail.com. While the moniker “Career Genius” sounds vaguely professional, no legitimate executive search firm recruiting for a multi-billion dollar AI lab operates from a numbered Gmail account.
High-level legal recruiting happens on corporate domains—e.g., @kornferry.com, @majorlindsey.com, or the hiring company’s own domain.
2. Identity Theft of Real Recruiters:
To bolster credibility, the scammers impersonated a real recruiter—in this instance, Pam K., a veteran staffing professional based in Texas. The email even included a link to her legitimate LinkedIn profile.
This tactic, known as “borrowed credibility,” relies on the target verifying the profile but failing to verify the connection between the profile and the sender.
Why IP Professionals Are Targets
Why target patent attorneys? We are naturally risk-averse and skeptical.
The answer lies in the value of the credentials. A senior IP strategist’s digital footprint is a treasure trove. Gaining access to your personal information, or tricking you into downloading malware disguised as a “Job Description PDF,” could compromise sensitive client data, trade secrets, or simply lead to high-level identity theft.
Furthermore, the “Fear Of Missing Out” (FOMO) in the AI sector is palpable. We all know that the first few patent strategists at these major labs will likely see massive financial returns. Scammers are exploiting that ambition.
The Counsel’s Counsel: How to Protect Yourself
As we advise our clients on protecting their inventions, we must protect our own careers. If you receive a “perfect” outreach email, apply the following scrutiny:
Check the Header: Hover over the sender’s name. If it claims to be a top-tier recruiter but ends in
@gmail.com,@yahoo.com, or@outlook.com, hit delete.Verify the Channel: If the email links to a LinkedIn profile, do not reply to the email. Instead, go directly to LinkedIn and message that person. Ask a simple question: “Hi, I received an email from [address] claiming to be you. Just wanted to verify this is legitimate.”
Reverse Search the Copy: Scammers are rarely creative writers. They often lift job descriptions verbatim from legitimate companies. Copy a unique sentence from the pitch (e.g., “develop and execute the global patent strategy for novel AI models”) and search it in Google. You may find the actual job posting on a legitimate career page—allowing you to apply safely.
Conclusion
The market for AI patent expertise is real, robust, and growing. Your skills in analyzing complex portfolios and securing protection for novel algorithms are more valuable than ever. But in this “Wild West” environment, ensure you are shaking hands with a sheriff, not an outlaw.
Proceed with optimism, but verify your sources. After all, if a claim looks too broad to be valid, it usually is.
Disclaimer: This is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. To the extent there are any opinions in this article, they are the author’s alone and do not represent the beliefs of his firm or clients. The strategies expressed are purely speculation based on publicly available information. The information expressed is subject to change at any time and should be checked for completeness, accuracy and current applicability. For advice, consult a suitably licensed attorney and/or patent professional.