Small Business Scam Spotlight: Fake Government Notices

In recent months, DATCP has received several reports of mail solicitations being sent to Wisconsin business owners that look like invoices or tax documents and claim to require payment for labor posters, annual reports, articles of incorporation, and beneficial ownership information. The amount these solicitations request is often significantly higher than the real filing fees.

Business owners should be aware that federal documents related to business filings usually do not have associated fees, and all state documents can be acquired through the websites of their respective agencies. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions website is a great resource to verify the true cost of many of these fees. To avoid scams, businesses should carefully review all solicitations, notices, and websites that offer services above the required fees.

Having internal controls and verification processes for paying invoices can prevent a business from falling victim to these scams. Train employees to review invoices thoroughly before authorizing payment, and question any invoice that does not look familiar.