Washington state businesses are being targeted by scammers posing as officials from a state agency, specifically the Washington Office of the Secretary of State. These fraudulent letters, which may appear legitimate, request payments on behalf of the agency and are aimed at businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
The deceptive letters feature the Washington state seal and are addressed directly to businesses, including their Unified Business Identifier number. They typically focus on issues such as initial registration, business verification, annual filings, and claims of delinquency, creating a sense of urgency for recipients, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
The Attorney General’s office has identified several indicators that can help businesses recognize these letters as scams. For example, one letter shared with the department included a Sacramento address, which raises red flags. Additionally, the presence of a QR code that directs recipients to a website ending in .org rather than the official .gov domain is another warning sign.
Since early November, the Attorney General’s office has received over 40 complaints regarding these fraudulent letters, which demand payments and fines that far exceed what is actually required for business filings. In addition to the letters, there have been reports of phone scams targeting Latino businesses, with threats of jail time if payments are not made.
Both the Secretary of State’s office and the Attorney General’s office are urging businesses to report any suspicious letters they receive. Businesses that suspect they have fallen victim to a scam are encouraged to reach out directly to the Secretary of State’s office to verify their business filings. Additionally, they can check their status using the Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Filing System. For those who believe they are being targeted by a scam, filing a complaint with the Attorney General’s office is recommended. The Secretary of State also provides resources to help businesses identify misleading notices and understand the proper actions to take if they receive questionable communications.
