January 2, 2008 - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Director Keith W. Cooley warns Michigan corporations to be aware of a possible scam that involves business directory solicitations that may look deceptively like a mailing from DLEG.

"The scheme threatens dissolution of the corporation to scare people into paying a fee to get listed in a national database, a fictitious directory," said Cooley. "Our corporation clients should only respond to correspondence from DLEG. No such letters are being sent from DLEG or the State of Michigan, no matter how official they may look."

DLEG has learned of similar scams against corporations in other jurisdictions. In North Carolina, corporations received official-looking, "important final notice" letters advising they had 14 days from receipt of the letter to pay $487 to avoid dissolution of the corporation. The letter claimed that businesses were required to register with the "National Corporation Registry" as a result of the Patriot Act of 2001. However, no such registration is required and there is no "National Corporation Registry".

Canadian companies received fake invoices for $749 for a fictitious "Canadian Companies Directory for Industry, Commerce and Trade". The correspondence used the Canadian federal government's corporate signature and a name similar to a former Canadian governmental agency, which led many businesses to believe the correspondence was legitimate.

The fraudulent letters can look authentic. They may be addressed to the corporation, the resident agent, directors or officers; cite a Michigan statute or a federal statute; and may appear to be issued by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Commercial Services, Corporation Division. If such notices are received, they are to be disregarded because they are neither issued by DLEG nor any governmental agency.

Any Michigan corporation that receives a notice to register their business in a national database and pay a fee to avoid dissolution of their corporation, are advised to do the following:

1. Keep the notice, mailing envelope, and return envelope.
2. Contact the United States Postal Inspections Service to report mail fraud at: 877-876-2455 or http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
3. Contact the Michigan Office of the Attorney General at: P.O. Box 30212, Lansing MI 48909.

Legitimate notices and mailings to Michigan corporations are issued from DLEG's Corporation Division and are mailed to the resident agent at the registered office address on record.

Customers with questions about their corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership are encouraged use Business Entity Search www.michigan.gov/entitysearch to check their status. If an annual report or statement needs to be filed, customers may file online using www.michigan.gov/fileonline. Additional information is available on the Corporation Division website at www.michigan.gov/corporations or by calling the Corporation Division at (517)-241-6470.

Read more Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth press releases.