LANSING, MI - Beware of a scam hitting the mailboxes of Michigan corporations and limited liability companies from a non-governmental entity named “New Business Filing LLC” trying to collect annual statement fees. The solicitation implies that the entity is required to complete an annual statement, regardless of whether the entity has already filed its annual statement. It may look like an official document, but it is not.
Legitimate notices and mailings to Michigan entities are issued from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Corporations, Securities, and Commercial Licensing Bureau and are mailed to the resident agent at the registered office address on record. When receiving any official-looking document, please review carefully and read the small print. If you are not sure, please contact LARA at 517-241-6470.
“LLCs are required to file annual statements, but this scam deliberately targets them regardless of whether they have already complied with the requirement,” said LARA Director Marlon I. Brown. “These deceptive mailings are not from LARA, even if they appear official. Our business customers should disregard them and only respond to correspondence directly from LARA.”
Customers with questions about their corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership are encouraged to visit www.michigan.gov/lara, click on “I Need to…” and “Apply, Renew, or Lookup a Business License” to check their status and filing history.
Any Michigan entity that receives the attached notice is advised to do the following:
- Keep the notice, mailing envelope, and return envelope
- Contact the United States Postal Inspections Service to report mail fraud at: 1-877-876-2455 or https://www.uspis.gov/
- Contact the Michigan Department of the Attorney General at: 877-765-8388 or Michigan.gov/ag
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 even appear to be issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. If such notices are received and the legitimacy is questionable, please contact LARA at 517-241-6470.
###
For more information about LARA, please visit www.michigan.gov/lara
