SAINT
PAUL – Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman is warning the
state’s businesses about an email solicitation from “Minnesota Corporate
Compliance” with an invoice requesting payment to comply with a state business reporting requirement.
The deceptive email solicits businesses ato pay a $125 fee by a certain date in order to maintain proper records.
“This
email is a scam and any business that receives the solicitation should
disregard it,” said Rothman. “At first glance, the official-looking
invoice may appear legitimate. But it is designed to trick a business
into making an unnecessary payment.”
The invoice cites a nonexistent state law about maintaining business records and requests online payment of a $125 annual fee.
While
the invoice has a return address for a downtown Saint Paul office
building, it does not include a suite number and there is no tenant in
the building matching Minnesota Corporate Compliance.
Calls to the phone number listed on the invoice are forwarded to voice mail.
Calls to the phone number listed on the invoice are forwarded to voice mail.
“This
type of scam isn’t entirely new,” said Rothman. “Businesses used to get
solicitations like this through direct mail or phone calls. Now it’s
done with email and online payment services. But the intent remains the
same: to deceive and defraud.”
