Press Releases
01/02/2020
Attorney General Tong, Secretary of the State Merrill, DCP Commissioner Seagull, and Better Business Bureau Warn Businesses: Don’t Fall Victim to Fraudulent Mailings
Officials warn of resurfacing imposter scams misrepresenting government requirements
Attorney General William Tong, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull, and the Better Business Bureau Serving Connecticut are urging residents to be wary of deceptive mailings that solicit Connecticut businesses, particularly small business owners, to purchase an unnecessary “certificate of legal existence.”
"These government imposter scams are designed to target businesses – selling business owners services they don't need or can acquire for a lower fee – all in an effort to cheat them out of their hard-earned money. Anyone who has any doubts about the legitimacy of a mailing they have received should call the Office of the Attorney General to verify the document before sending money to a private company," said Attorney General Tong.
“There is no legal requirement for any business to obtain a certificate of legal existence, and no Connecticut business should have to pay an inflated fee to receive one. A certificate of legal existence is an optional document that you may request directly from our office that confirms that your business is active and current with annual report filing obligations,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief business registrar. “Please contact my office at 860-509-6003 or email us at crd@ct.gov if you ever have any questions about the legitimacy of a notice you receive about business filings – we are ready and eager to help all Connecticut business owners, small and large!”
“Scam artists know that this is the time of year that we’re all trying to get organized,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Seagull. “Unfortunately, they see that as another opening to take advantage of business owners' good nature and desire to stay in compliance with the law. We want to remind business owners to never give in to threatening letters, emails, or calls that encourage them to act immediately or face consequences. Those kinds of pressure tactics are almost always the signs of a scam.”
"The New Year is always a time that scammers take advantage of consumers and business owners alike! These 'certificate of existence' scams specifically target small businesses that want to pave their way to a smooth New Year, but what it boils down to is a fake invoice scam. Businesses statewide are also encouraged to reach out to the Better Business Bureau if they have questions about the legitimacy of a mailing or bill that seems fraudulent. Mailing and invoice scams like this are one of the most popular scams that target small businesses," said Luke Frey, Associate Director of Communications for the Better Business Bureau serving Connecticut.
For example, a mailing from a company calling itself CT Certificate Service suggests that Connecticut businesses must pay a fee of $112.50 to CT Certificate Service in order to obtain copies of their "Connecticut Certificate of Existence."
A copy of the mailing and the accompanying envelope are available here.
In Connecticut, a certificate of existence is not a required document. If a business wishes to obtain a certificate of existence, it can request one online from the Secretary of the State, and for a much smaller fee, by visiting www.concord-sots.ct.gov.
About the CT Certificate Scam:
- The mailing misrepresents that a business owner should order the Certificate of Existence because the document supposedly proves that a business "complies with all state requirements."
- The mailing also arrives in an envelope marked "IMPORTANT – OPEN IMMEDIATELY" and "BUSINESS MAIL – TIME SENSITIVE," intended to create a false sense of urgency.
- CT Certificate Service lists a West Hartford address on the mailing, making it seem like it is based in Connecticut. The West Hartford address, however, is a private mailbox service, and CT Certificate Service is actually a fictitious name used by a Florida-based company.
This mailing is just another example of government imposter scams that happen regularly in Connecticut and across the country.
The Office of the Attorney General and Secretary of the State also issued a consumer alert in January warning businesses across Connecticut about a mailing being sent by "Workplace Compliance Services." The mailing claimed to be an official "Annual Report Instruction Form," alleging that payment is required by Connecticut law. The Office of the Attorney General's investigation into Workplace Compliance Services is ongoing.
These deceptive solicitations often appear to be “official” documents and typically reference Connecticut state law.
If your business paid CT Certificate Service in response to the “2019 CERTIFICATE OF EXISTENCE REQUEST FORM,” you may make a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/ and include a copy of the mailing.
If your business has received the bogus “Annual Report Instruction Form,” you may file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/, and include a copy of the mailing, as an investigation into the mailing in coordination with the U.S. Postal Inspector is underway.
- Twitter: @AGWilliamTong
- Facebook: CT Attorney General
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Benton
elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
860-808-5324 (office)
Consumer Inquiries:
860-808-5318
attorney.general@ct.gov