Beware of Business Scam Involving Corporate Records

Secretary of State Tre Hargett is warning businesses throughout Tennessee to be vigilant about scammers who request fees that are not required by state government.

The Secretary of State’s office has received inquiries about official-looking notices sent from Corporate Records Service. These notices were reported arriving in mailboxes around Tuesday. Corporate Records Service is not registered, affiliated, or associated with the Tennessee Secretary of State.

The mailers are causing confusion for Tennessee corporations due to their resemblance to official documents. Tennessee corporations are required to file annual reports with the Secretary of State’s office. Many corporations that have not filed their annual reports that were due on April 1 have also recently received notices of determination from the Secretary of State.

Corporate Records Services is requesting a $125 fee. The state’s standard fee to file a corporation annual report in Tennessee is only $20.

“We can confirm that Corporate Records Service is not a business entity on file with our office,” Secretary Hargett said. “I strongly advise corporations to exercise caution before providing their private and confidential information, including credit card information, to this or any company that is representing itself in this manner.”

The Secretary of State’s office maintains a user-friendly online annual report filing system for businesses. Details can be found online at http://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/FilingSearch.aspx. Customers may also call the Business Services Division at 615-741-2286 for more information.

Source: Tennessee Secretary of State, Tre Hargett