SOS Scam Alerts

AROUND THE COUNTRY, SCAMS ARE OCCURRING WHICH TARGET BUSINESSES THAT ARE REGISTERED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICES.

UCS is seeing this happen in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington; however, these scam letters and emails can be sent from anywhere at any time throughout the country.

If you receive mail or an email that claims to be an official state notice demanding payment, please know it is not legitimate unless it comes directly from the Secretary of State’s office or your commercial or non-commercial registered agent. If someone is demanding money from you for an annual report, renewal of registration, or license, be sure to look at the entity that sent the correspondence. If it is from anyone other than with whom you have a registration or license with, you should double check with that agency.

Below are some recently reported misleading solicitations:

FinCEN (Corporate Transparency Act)

FinCEN has been notified of recent fraudulent attempts to solicit information from individuals and entities who may be subject to reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. The fraudulent correspondence may be titled “Important Compliance Notice” and asks the recipient to click on a URL or to scan a QR code. Those e-mails or letters are fraudulent. FinCEN does not send unsolicited requests. Please do not respond to these fraudulent messages or click on any links or scan any QR codes within them.

California
“California Limited Liability Company Biennial Order Form” is being sent with a request for data and payment. See attached example.
Click here for more details on additional scam alerts from the California Secretary of State.

Delaware

The Division of Corporations recommends that consumers be alert to deceptive solicitations. Delaware legal entities should view suspiciously any correspondence, via regular mail or e-mail, that does not come directly from the State or the entity’s Delaware registered agent.

Click here for examples of deceptive solicitations.

Connecticut
Illegitimate mailing urging customers to purchase a certificate of legal existence. Click here for more details.

Florida
Misleading communications entitled “State of XX Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement Request Form” are making the rounds, asking companies to confirm their data and remit payment to XX UCC Statement Service for a copy of the Financing Statement. The notices even state a deadline for response. See copy of the notice.

Georgia
False information delivered via email regarding the filing of company’s annual report. The email contains a virus. Click here for more details from the Georgia Secretary of State.

Idaho
Requests for a certificate of existence. Click here for more details from the Idaho Secretary of State.

Illinois
A non-governmental firm called “Illinois Council For Corporations” is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect a $150 fee for a form entitled “Annual Records Solicitation Form”. Click here for more details from the Illinois Secretary of State.

Montana
Payment demand notice for annual reports, renewal of registration or license. Click here for more details from the Montana Secretary of State

New Jersey
Misleading communications entitled “State of XX Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement Request Form” are making the rounds, asking companies to confirm their data and remit payment to XX UCC Statement Service for a copy of the Financing Statement. See attached example. The notices even state a deadline for response. Click here for details for other consumer alerts.

Oregon
Despite their appearance, the Annual Report Instruction Form​ or the Annual Report Compliance​ were not sent by the Secretary of State Corporation Division. Click here for more details from the Oregon Secretary of State.

Tennessee
Requests for a certificate of existence. Click here for more details from the Tennessee Secretary of State.  Secretary of State Hargett also warns of new UCC scam targeting Tennesseans.  Click here for more details.

Vermont

Attorney General T.J. Donovan and Secretary of State Jim Condos are warning Vermont businesses that a Florida-based company, Centurion Filing Services, LLC, calling itself VT Certificate Service, is mailing businesses a request for payment for a “certificate of good standing. Click here for more details from the Vermont Secretary of State.

Washington
The Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Division is receiving calls and emails from customers regarding a postcard received in the mail from the following company: Business Compliance Division, Spokane, WA 99201. Click here for more details from the Washington Secretary of State.

If you receive a notification soliciting immediate action or payment for your company and it does not seem legitimate, contact the Secretary of State or a Client Service Representative from United Corporate Services at (800) 899-8648 or info@unitedcorporate.com.