Ten Sec Of State Warning Of Annual Scam Mailer
There is a scam that business owners need to be aware of. This scam happens each year at about this time. The scam is in the form of an official-looking mailer from a third party called Tennessee Business Filing Center. Businesses are required to complete annual renewals with the state by April 1 each year. These documents update or confirm records with the Secretary of State’s office and are required for entities to maintain “active status” so they can legally operate in Tennessee.
Wording on the letter threatens recipients with additional fees and business dissolution if they do not file their reports through the Tennessee Business Filing Center before that April 1 deadline. Secretary of State Tre Hargett says this letter is similar to ones seen in recent years. The scam mailer does look official but has an amount of $589.89 due. Hargett says he wants all Tennessee businesses to know the Secretary of State’s office provide the very same services but at substantially lower costs.
Below is a sample of the scam mailer:
