Scam Targets Corporations DLEG alerts Michigan businesses of scheme to pay fee to fake national registry to avoid dissolution
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Director Keith W. Cooley warns Michigan corporations to be aware of a possible scam that involves business directory solicitations that may look deceptively like a mailing from DLEG.
“The scheme threatens dissolution of the corporation to scare people into paying a fee to get listed in a national database, a fictitious directory,” said Cooley. “Our corporation clients should only respond to correspondence from DLEG. No such letters are being sent from DLEG or the State of Michigan, no matter how official they may look.”
DLEG has learned of similar scams against corporations in other jurisdictions. In North Carolina, corporations received official-looking, “important final notice” letters advising they had 14 days from receipt of the letter to pay $487 to avoid dissolution of the corporation. The letter claimed that businesses were required to register with the “National Corporation Registry” as a result of the Patriot Act of 2001. However, no such registration is required and there is no “National Corporation Registry”.
Canadian companies received fake invoices for $749 for a fictitious “Canadian Companies Directory for Industry, Commerce and Trade”. The correspondence used the Canadian federal government’s corporate signature and a name similar to a former Canadian governmental agency, which led many businesses to believe the correspondence was legitimate.
The fraudulent letters can look authentic. They may be addressed to the corporation, the resident agent, directors or officers; cite a Michigan statute or a federal statute; and may appear to be issued by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Commercial Services, Corporation Division. If such notices are received, they are to be disregarded because they are neither issued by DLEG nor any governmental agency.
Any Michigan corporation that receives a notice to register their business in a national database and pay a fee to avoid dissolution of their corporation, are advised to do the following:
1. Keep the notice, mailing envelope, and return envelope.
2. Contact the United States Postal Inspections Service to report mail fraud at:
877-876-2455 or http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
3. Contact the Michigan Office of the Attorney General at: P.O. Box 30212, Lansing MI 48909.
Legitimate notices and mailings to Michigan corporations are issued from DLEG’s Corporation Division and are mailed to the resident agent at the registered office address on record.
Customers with questions about their corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership are encouraged use Business Entity Search www.michigan.gov/entitysearch to check their status. If an annual report or statement needs to be filed, customers may file online using www.michigan.gov/fileonline. Additional information is available on the Corporation Division website at www.michigan.gov/corporations or by calling the Corporation Division at (517)-241-6470.
Judge Tom Boyd Appointed as Chief Judge of 55th District Court
The Michigan Supreme Court has appointed Judge Thomas P. Boyd as Chief Judge of the 55th District Court for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2008. Chief Judge is the presiding officer and director of administration of the court.
Judge Boyd was appointed to the District Court in July 2005 and elected in November 2006. Boyd is a former prosecutor in the Michigan Attorney General’s office and has been an innovator on the bench. Boyd’s “Fast Track” program has added efficiency to the court, and this spring he will be introducing a special Domestic Violence Court, designed specifically to help protect Mid Michigan families.
“We will continue the 55th District Court’s long tradition of excellent service to the people of Ingham County. Shrinking government budgets and increasing workloads are significant challenges we face in the coming years. I look forward to working with Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, court staff, members of the bar and the general public to meet these challenges,” Judge Boyd said. “I would like to thank the Supreme Court for the confidence they have shown in my abilities,” Boyd added.
The 55th District Court hears cases from every Ingham County community, with the exceptions of Lansing (54A District Court) and East Lansing (54B District Court).
IRS Warns Taxpayers of New E-mail Scams
An e-mail scam claims to come from the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (a genuine and independent organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers with unresolved tax problems). The e-mail says that the recipient is eligible for a tax refund and directs the recipient to click on a link that leads to a fake IRS Web site. The IRS recommends that recipients do not click on links in, or open any attachments to, e-mails they receive that are unsolicited or that come from unknown sources.
Source: Press releases
