DENVER - At first glace, the letter looks like an official state document. It has a seal, cites the Colorado Revised Statues, and uses attention-grabbing language telling small business owners they're at risk of becoming "noncompliant" or "delinquent."
The letter urges small business owners to fill out an enclosed form and send a check for $225 to file a periodic report with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, which is required by law.
Business owners may be compelled to quickly send a check. But if they read the fine print, they'll see this official-looking letter isn't from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. It's not even from a company in Colorado.
The letter is from Nevada-based "Corporate Controllers Unit, LLC." And what do small business owners get for that $225? Something they can do themselves online for ten bucks.
"Small business has it hard enough without predators like this trying to scam us," said Daniel Boyd, one of at least 30 business owners who called and emailed 9NEWS over the weekend.
"I don't see where this company provides any service," Boyd said.
"Corporate Controllers Unit, LLC" did not have a phone number listed on their website or in company paperwork filed with the Colorado Secretary of State's office.
9NEWS emailed the company through their website Sunday afternoon requesting comment. We had not received a response as of Sunday evening.
The company website did feature five testimonials, supposedly from satisfied customers.
The "Ripoff Report" website listed nine complaints against "Corporate Controllers, LLC" as of Sunday evening. All of those complaints were posted over the weekend.
9NEWS began receiving a flood of newstips about the letter from "Corporate Controllers Unit, LLC" on Saturday.
"If I hadn't read this thoroughly, I might have sent the fee, which I can't afford," said Dana Rock.
"It almost had me fooled," said Robin Zietz. "My concern is that other small business owners will be fooled into thinking this is a legitimate government letter and send the money."
"Unfortunately, these misleading statements are not new," said Rich Coolidge, Communications Director for the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.
"It's important for your viewers to know that they can file on our web site for $10 to file their annual report," Coolidge said. "They can contact our business division or review their record on our business database."
The Colorado Secretary of State's Office put out an alert about potentially deceptive or misleading solicitations in 2008.
According to the alert, these solicitations tend to share common elements and may contain one or more of the following characteristics:
• Appear similar to a government form;
• Contain an official-looking seal;
• Refer to a statute or quote other Acts or laws;
• Imply that failing to return the form and pay a fee may place your company in jeopardy, may "pierce the corporate veil," or might cause your company's filings with the state to be in a noncompliant status;
• Contain a "Corp Number" or "Corporate Identification Number" that does not match a number given to your entity by a State or Federal Agency.
Businesses who receive these letters are urged to email the Colorado Secretary of State's Office: sos.business@sos.state.co.us or call 303-894-2200 and select option 2.
The Business Division may request a copy of the notice, which can be faxed to 303-869-4864.
The Secretary of State's Office advises business owners to keep the original notice, mailing envelope and return envelope for their records.
"I only wonder how many small business owners who are already struggling to survive didn't read the entire document and forked over $225 to this scammer," said Stephen Wiggs.
"I'm afraid that many people will not read the fine print and blindly send in their $225 check to these scam-artists," added Cindy Schuler.
"It's tough enough for small businesses these days in current economic conditions," said Michael Beach. "(This) could make it even worse."
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