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United States – Authorities Warn of Escalating Phishing Scam Threats
The United States (US) Secretaries of State and Attorney Generals have released statewide warnings about deceptive phishing scams targeting business owners.
These scams purport to be from official government agencies, disguised as official state notices.
What is the Nature of these Scams?
Fraudulent solicitations are being distributed through various channels:
- Mail to business and registered agent addresses
- Phone calls and text messages
- Emails to business accounts
These scammers often use public information to target businesses, posing as government agencies or official entities. Common tactics include:
1. Urging businesses to file annual reports through their services
2. Offering fraudulent registered agent services
3. Claiming to assist with Beneficial Ownership Information reports
4. Selling unnecessary certificates or documents
How to Identify these Phishing Scams
Often the notices cite incorrect due dates and quote outrageous fees, sometimes over 500% of the actual state filing or document retrieval fees.
Similarly, the registered agent services being offered are artificial, coming from businesses outside the state jurisdiction.
The solicitations may:
- Require fees higher than actual state fees.
- Cite specific state statutes.
- Contain a due date for your response and interest accrual dates.
- Contain incorrect due dates of annual filings.
- Require that you purchase certificates such as certified copies and certificates of good standing without reason.
- Appear similar to a government form.
- Contain a “Customer ID Number” that does not match a number given to you by a State or Federal Agency.
- Contain a warning to make sure that the form’s instructions are followed exactly when completing the form.
- Contain your business entity’s actual business ID number and date of formation, as reflected in the Secretary of State’s business records.
What actions can be taken?
1. Remain alert
2. Avoid clicking suspicious email links
3. Consult Mercator® by Citco before sharing sensitive information or payment details
Our goal is to protect our clients, and we will be reporting any deceptive or misleading solicitations to the appropriate authorities.
