Comments on: Beware: Fraudulent Business Filings Division Is Actively Scamming California LLC’s

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:11:36 +0000

My LLC also received this scam letter. I avoided being suckered by downloading the normal form and sending the normal $20 fee made out to the SOS, so when it was returned with another threatening letter from the “BFD”, I figured it was a scam, googled it, and made a complaint to the Attorney General’s office. The funny thing is that at first I thought it was the cash starved state that was perpetrating the scam by sending you the form that you can download and asking for the extra $219 for the service! I am glad to see that they have initiated the lawsuit.

By: Scott Beale

Scott Beale — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:25:42 +0000

Thanks for that info, I’ve update the post.

By: angst

angst — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:48:31 +0000

News Release
October 08, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: (916) 324-5500
Print Version

Brown Sues 8 Individuals and 6 Businesses Operating Scams Targeting California Small Businesses

http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/print_release.php?id=1817

By: Trish

Trish — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:07:24 +0000

Thank you so much for posting this! I just received two notices today that have a due date of 10-15. I panicked for a minute but started reading the fine print and then started searching the web. I will be reporting these scammers and hope they pay for this.

By: William Barry

William Barry — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:31:38 +0000

There is a phone number at the bottom of the form. It sounds rather official and gives you the option to leave a message. 916-903-5355 Does anyone know how to use a phone number for some evil intent? Please?

One more scam to watch out for – copier toner. The caller will get someone in the office to identify the serial number of the copier, then the invoice comes in for about $800.00. Not sure if we even got the toner (which would make us marginally liable for the charge).

Has anyone researched the business license for this company? Perhaps they need an IRS audit? I have a hard time believing that they are defrauding businesses, but not the government.

There is a lot of emphasis put on Nigerian email scammers, and phishing for financial data. I hope there is also an official focus on this type of domestic fraud.

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:27:43 +0000

This got me, but I called the secretary of state and they explained it. Can you say ANGRY?

By: mikl-em

mikl-em — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:06:55 +0000

I’ve seen similar scams also happen for domains renewals (as mentioned above), magazine subscriptions (other parties offering to renew you, often for a higher price, not sure if you get the mags or not), loan modifications (mentioning your lender’s name, but it’s another company sending to you). bastards.

By: john dunham

john dunham — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:24:54 +0000

Thanks posting this! They sent a related notice to my non-profit. Payment was sitting in my outbox. Caught in the nick of time. I was noticing the peculiar acronym for “Business Filing Division”. Ironic, no?

By: Kristi

Kristi — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:09:31 +0000

Thank you for posting about this. We almost fell for it last week, I even drove home from a business trip (90 miles one way) to check this out. ugh.

By: Wil

Wil — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:12:34 +0000

I received one of these for my C-Corp, so I can confirm they’re not preying just on LLCs.

I highly recommend that anyone who received one file a complaint with the attorney general’s office:

California Department of Justice, Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, California 94244-2550
http://www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php

This is the same scam domain registrars have been doing for years, sending “domain name expiration” notices in the hopes that a secretary or someone non-technical will send in a check to “renew” a domain name, resulting in a transfer to the scammy registry. ICANN’s new transfer policies pretty much put a stop to the domain name scam, it’s up to us to get the Secretary of State to do the same to these guys. (It’d be very simple for them to stop accepting filings from the scammers, putting them out of business.)

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:01:07 +0000

Yep, we’ve received the same for a couple years. Nearly thought it was real last year.

By: george

george — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:13:14 +0000

Thanks! I just sent them that check on Friday and I managed to get it stopped. That was close.