Washington’s small businesses are being targeted by scammers posing as the Secretary of State’s Office. These fraudulent letters, designed to mimic official government communications, demand excessive fees and threaten fines, dissolution, or even jail for noncompliance. Latino businesses have also reported similar scams via phone.
The scam letters often include authentic-looking details, such as the Washington state seal and Unified Business Identifier (UBI) numbers, to appear legitimate. However, key clues reveal their deceit, such as incorrect addresses, including one for “Olympia, CA,” and QR codes linking to websites ending in .org instead of .gov.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson urges businesses to verify filing statuses directly with the Secretary of State and report scams to his office. Businesses should avoid paying suspicious demands and consider halting payments if already made.
Ferguson’s Small Business Protection Initiative combats such scams. Recent victories include shutting down fraudulent companies and securing penalties exceeding $25 million against businesses preying on Washington entrepreneurs.
For guidance, visit the Corporations and Charities Filing System or contact the Secretary of State at (360) 725-0377 or [email protected]. Protect your business by staying vigilant against deceptive solicitations.
