The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is warning businesses to watch out for a bogus document filing scam going around in Michigan.
Officials say a non-government organization called "Michigan Council for Corporations" is charging a $150 fee to prepare "corporate consent records in lieu of annual meeting minutes."
LARA Directors Orlene Hawks cautions the notice is not from the licensing department.
“Beware of mailings that may look official that offer assistance in performing non-existent or non-required services,” said Hawks. “Michigan corporations are not required by law to file annual meeting minutes or complete an annual records solicitation form. No such letters are being sent from the LARA Corporations Division, no matter how official they may look.”
The bogus form is called the "2019 Annual Records Solicitation Form, Shareholders, Directors and Officers." The instructions say completing the form along with the payment will "satisfy the annual corporate records for your corportation."
Here is what the fraudulent document looks like:
Fraudulent Document - Michigan Council of Corporations 643890 7 by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
“This is not to be confused with the State of Michigan legal requirement of corporations submitting anannual report, due on or before May 15 each year after incorporation,” said Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing (CSCL) Director Julia Dale. “The annual report or annual statement can be filed online along with the applicable fee of $25 payable to the State of Michigan.”
If you are not sure about the validity of an official-looking document, contact the LARA Corporations Division at (517) 241-6470.
Click here for more information.
