On March 26, 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of State issued the following press release:
Department of State: Department of State warns businesses of “Annual Meeting Disclosure Statement” scam.
HARRISBURG — Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele today warned Pennsylvania corporations about a bogus mailing some firms have received, leading businesses to believe they must send $125 and file an Annual Meeting Disclosure Statement by a certain date, or risk being listed in “bad standing” with the state.
“At first glance, this solicitation may look official,” Aichele said. “However, none of the information being requested is required to be filed with the Department of State, or with any private company.”
The mailing comes from a company called Pennsylvania Corporate Compliance Company, and includes near the top of the letter a direct citation from the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law regarding corporate records. Despite the suggestive language and official look of the mailing, Aichele emphasized there is no filing called an Annual Meeting Disclosure Statement required in Pennsylvania. She added this mailing did not come from any government office, and Pennsylvania Corporate Compliance Company has no association with state government.
“Any official notices sent to businesses by the Pennsylvania Department of State or Secretary of the Commonwealth will contain the letterhead and/or contact information for the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations,” Aichele said. She advised any companies receiving this mailing to disregard it. She also said similar scams have been reported in other states.
Any business that has questions can call the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations at 717-787-1057, or email the bureau at ra-corps@pa.gov.
Businesses receiving this mailing can also contact the U.S. Postal Inspections Service to report mail fraud at 877-876-2455, or at http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx.
Any company that has sent money because of this scam can contact the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Bureau of Consumer Protection at
www.attorneygeneral.gov/complaints.aspx?id+451 .
