. . But some of the perpetrators may have been caught.
California
California businesses have recent reports. The scam seems to have been operating in California for years.
Colorado
There are reports of the scam in Colorado: State Corporate Compliance fraud. The Secretary of State is also getting complaints about the Colorado Compliance Recorder: Updated Notice Regarding “Annual Minutes” Solicitations
Indiana
Indiana issued a warning that several businesses have reported receiving a deceptive letter that would appear to come from an official government source. The letter solicits an annual fee of $125 or $150 and claims it will be used for record keeping and processing of a company’s annual minutes. It gives the appearance of coming from a legitimate government agency and cites fictitious state law. Scam Alert for Businesses in Indiana. But the Secretary of State has filed a complaint to try to stop the scam.
Montana
Montana has issued a warning, although the Secretary of State has not received any complaints and is not aware of any Montana businesses being affected: Business Scam Alert (.pdf) (I am not sure that I agree that the scam is “potentially dangerous.”)
New York
In the Empire State, it looks like the scam has spread to condominiums and cooperatives: Scam or Useful Service? The Corporate Records Compliance Office Speaks
Texas
It looks like the scam has been operating in Texas for a few years, masquerading as a state agency. They may have caught the person behind some of it: Californian Charged With Unlawfully Profiting From Fake State Document Scheme.
Others
Previously, I noted that the scam was found in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Ohio.
Catching the Bad Guys
Its not clear if the scams in each state are perpetrated by the same group. The Indiana Secretary of State filed a complaint against Aaron V. Williams of Las Vegas, Lisa Diane Brown of California and several companies affiliated with them. (Of course these people have merely charged and are not necessarily guilty.)
UPDATE:
The Texas Attorney General filed suit against other parties, but the suit was dismissed.
References:
- Indiana Complaint Against International Corporate Marketing, et al – Hosted on JDsupra
- Texas Complaint Against Corporate Compliance, Inc., et al – Hosted on JDsupra
- California Law Blog: Indiana Secretary of State Corporate Minutes Mailings
- Corporate Compliance Insights: The compliance scams continue. Beware!
I was invoiced $150.00 by:
Compliance Services
PO Box 1265
Studio City, CA 91614-0265
I believed this was from the State of CA so I sent in the $150.00 that was requested. I have since sent them both an email and a letter requested that they refund my money. To date, I have not heard back from them.
If there is any way that I can be assisted, I would very much appreciate it.
Best regards.
I just got another Compliance Services request. This time from North Carolina.
Any one know anything about this one?
It’s a scam. They are using a private mailbox in a UPS Store in downtown Raleigh. Anyone who has lost money to this Raleigh, NC version of the scam is invited to contact Jennifer Pulley of the NC Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, tel. 919-716-6000.
Since it seems these people are using the UPS stores as the primary return addresses for their scam, shouldn’t the UPS stores be considered aiding and abbetting?
I dis also get a letter from Compliance Services (P.O.Box 1265 Studio City, CA 91614) for @125. I believ this is scam.
I just received one from Corporate Compliance Services in Studio City, CA. SCAM SCAM SCAM
I just received one. Boy, I wonder why this country is in such deep trouble when valuable resources are squandered on absolute non-sense? (Rhetorical) Think of what went into getting me and the others on this forum this dumb letter. Ink, paper, oil, plastic, metals, human labor and all the complexities with that…and that’s not even considering the space it takes up. Talk about not being worth the paper…We need to recommit our resources to worthwhile endeavors…it’s daily bull crap like this that concerns me about this country’s future…
go one from …
Compliance Services
400 Capital Cir SE
Postal Mail Box 18321
Tallahassee, Fl. 32301
I wrote them a nice letter – it had 3 words – one of them starts with F and basically says to have intercourse with themselves! LOL
The stamp was worth it :)!
Sounds like a great idea! I just got one today too and will do the same!
If it wouldn’t be because Construction is dead in Florida, and we Architects and Designers are starving, I would have send the check without thinking; but the fact that there is not phone number, real address made me Google
COMPLIANCE SERVICE
400 Capital Cir SE
Postal Mail Box 18321
Tallahassee, FL 32301
And here we are!!!! Sharing the experience…where the word “credit” (credibility), in every sense, is losing meaning in this country.
Could the authorities get in charge of this situation? Any lawyers?…mmmm probably none here!
We have been around a few years and this is the first year we have received this letter and that is why I checked this out. Glad I found this info.
The address my letter came from was also Compliance Services
400 Capital Cir SE
Postal Mail Box 18321
Tallahassee, Fl 32301 I received it today 2/11/11
Hey…Does anyone else think this scam is much bigger than a few skeeming and dishonest people.
apparently, it’s nationwide!
We paid Compliance Services in Florida then we received another form from Corporate Records Service in Florida asking the same things for $125. I called the Corp. Division in Florida and they told me the attorney general deemed them a legitimate business because on their form are the words “”…not a government agency and does not have or contract with any government service to provide this service.” These companies are just wrong and built on fraud.
It is Dec 2012 and I just received this scam from Compliance Services, 400 Capital Cir SE, Postal Mail Box 18321, Tallahassee, FL 32301. This is such a scam! Don’t send money in, or anything. I am going to submit a complaint to the Attorney General of Florida because these scammers need to stop! This is complete fraud. They are trying to protect themselves by putting “This is not a government document” on the envelope, but that’s not enough! They cite law and try to use scare tactics so that you send them $125. I can only imagine how many people have looked at this in a hurry, put it under bills to be paid without reading the details or researching its validity and have been robbed of $125!
I just received a letter from Corporate Records Service, PO Box 771700, St. Louis MO 63177 which clearly states in bold letter: “Corporate Records Service Is Not A Government Agency And Does Not Have or Contract With Any Government Agency To Provide This Service.”
I don’t think I’ll provide them with anything, momma didn’t raise a fool.