The Better Business Bureau warns of a new scam targeting business owners with fake government compliance notices, resulting in significant information and financial theft.
Highlights
- Scammers targeting businesses with sophisticated impersonation of government agencies
- Official-looking letters demand compliance with fabricated regulations
- Key prevention tips to safeguard businesses against these fraudulent schemes
Scammers, now targeting business owners, have refined their tactics—impersonating government officials and agencies to deceive victims into relinquishing sensitive information. These fraudulent schemes involve sending letters that appear highly official, purportedly from entities such as the “United States Business Regulations Department” or the “Department of Records Management,” complete with a notice ID number and convincing seals and watermarks.
Victims report receiving letters about “reporting obligations under the Corporate Transparency Act” or “federal filing requirements” to combat financial crimes, directing them to report ownership details to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network or similar bodies. These letters often threaten substantial fines and severe consequences for non-compliance, directing recipients to unsecured websites or QR codes.
One Scam Tracker report highlighted an “official looking letter” from the fictitious “United States Business Regulations Department,” urging compliance through an unsecured website or QR code, with warnings of fines for non-compliance. Another report involved a letter demanding mandatory business filing with the “Department of Records Management, Business Filing Division,” discovered to be a scam upon further investigation.
How to Protect Your Business
- Verify Government Correspondence. Always confirm the legitimacy of any suspicious mail or calls by contacting the government office directly through official channels.
- Never Click on Links in Suspicious Emails. Avoid clicking any links in emails claiming to be from government agencies without verifying their authenticity first.
- Spot the Red Flags. Grammar mistakes, spelling errors, and unusual formatting in communications can signal a scam.
- Secure Websites and QR Codes. Ensure websites are secure by checking for “https://” and remember that genuine government websites end in .gov.
- Cease Communication with Scammers. Stop all contact once you identify a scam, blocking any associated numbers or email addresses.
- Report to the FBI. Aid the Federal Bureau of Investigation by reporting these scams to ic3.gov, contributing to their efforts to apprehend fraudsters.
In light of these deceptive practices, businesses are urged to exercise caution and report any such fraudulent letters to BBB Scam Tracker—staying vigilant against the ever-evolving tactics of scammers seeking to undermine the integrity of the business community.
