U.S. business filing public records · Last verified 2026-07-05

The Small Business Scam Catalog — What Arrives After You File the LLC.

These letters, calls, invoices, and legal-looking demands are engineered for the week when a new owner is busy and compliance-anxious. Use the test, find the real version underneath, and decide whether to toss, verify, or escalate.

60 secto run the authenticity test before paying
18common scam entries with the real obligation underneath
24 hrtriage rule for ADA, copyright, patent, and debt threats
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Corporate Records Service Annual Compliance Division
Response Required Not a .gov address
Certificate of Existence Request Form

Business: Front Range Studio LLC
Entity ID: 20261234567
Jurisdiction: Colorado

Deadline:
Respond within 15 days to avoid interruption of status.
Mail payment to:
Compliance Filings Division LLC
P.O. Box 4182
Document preparation fee
Certificate + compliance record
$87.50
This is a solicitation. We are not a government agency and this offer is not approved or endorsed by any state office. You are under no obligation to purchase.
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Fine print says solicitation. State alerts repeatedly show this disclaimer hiding at the bottom.
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Not the Secretary of State. Real filings happen on the agency's own site, usually a .gov or official state domain.
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Deadline pressure. The fake deadline is not your actual filing calendar.
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Private payee. A state fee does not go to a private "Compliance" company at a P.O. box.
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Price contrast. Colorado certificates of good standing are free online as of Jul 2026; Florida LLC certificates of status are $5 when requested with annual report filing.
Quick reference

The 60-second authenticity test.

Do not call the number on the letter. Do not type the letter's URL. Verify from a source you find independently.

CheckWhat to look forDefault action
Fine print"Not a government agency," "solicitation," "no obligation," or "not endorsed."Treat as private sales mail.
PayeePrivate LLC, "Compliance Division," "Corporate Records," wire/Zelle/gift card, or P.O. box.Do not pay.
Real due dateCompare with your Secretary of State account, tax calendar, payroll vendor, or registered-agent dashboard.Use your calendar, not the letter.
Agency routeFind the agency yourself: state SoS, IRS, DOL, USPTO, SAM.gov, utility account, bank portal.Navigate independently.
Threat typeADA, copyright, patent, debt collection, court papers, tax notice, or actual state delinquency.Verify within 24 hours; do not toss blindly.

1. Hunt the disclaimer

California's Secretary of State highlights solicitations whose own text says they are not from a government agency and are not bills.

2. Identify the real agency

Annual reports, good-standing certificates, EINs, posters, trademarks, and SAM registrations each have an official home.

3. Compare the fee

A $125 or $200 invoice often maps to a free or low-cost government task. The price gap is the tell.

4. Re-initiate contact

Use the account portal, bill, card, or agency site you already trust. Never verify through the suspect notice.

5. Slow legal mail down

Legal-shaped threats get a same-day payment ban and a 24-hour verification window.

Trigger timeline: when the wave tends to arrive

Weeks 1-8Certificate/status mailers
Public record scraped after formation. Weeks 1-8Poster and EIN services
Compliance fear, especially before hiring. Year 1 anniversaryAnnual-report services
Real deadline, private middleman. After trademark filingUSPTO-lookalike invoices
Public trademark record fuels fake urgency. Any timeEmail and invoice fraud
Payment changes and fake bills hit the AP inbox.
Filing-triggered paper scams

The mail wave: official-looking solicitations after formation.

Is this Certificate of Existence, Status, or Good Standing letter from the state?
Search phrases: certificate of existence letter scam, certificate of status notice, good standing request form.
What arrives
A cream or gray "request form" for a certificate, seal, corporate record, or "compliance package," often prefilled with your entity number.
The tell
Private payee, "not a government agency" disclaimer, urgency that does not match your state calendar, and a certificate you did not ask for.
Real underneath
A certificate can be useful when a lender, landlord, investor, or foreign state asks for proof of good standing. You order it from the state only when needed.
Price vs real
$87.50 private mailerColorado certificate: free online as of Jul 2026Florida LLC certificate with report: $5 as of Jul 2026
Response
Toss unless you independently need the certificate. If needed, search your state Secretary of State site and order there.
Is this annual report filing service notice legitimate?
Search phrases: annual report compliance notice scam, annual minutes form, corporate record form.
What arrives
A notice saying your entity must file an annual report, annual minutes, annual corporate record, or statement of information by a near deadline.
The tell
The task is framed as mandatory, but the sender is a third-party service. Florida explicitly says "Annual Minutes" and "Annual Corporate Record Forms" are not required by its office.
Real underneath
Most entities do have recurring state reports, but the real deadline and fee vary by state and appear in your state business portal.
Price vs real
$150-$250 service invoiceColorado Periodic Report: $25 from Jul 1, 2024California warns some service fees are nearly 10x the state fee
Response
Log into the state site yourself. File the real report directly. Do not assume payment to a middleman satisfies your statutory obligation.
Do I need to pay this labor-law poster invoice?
Search phrases: labor law poster scam, workplace poster invoice, compliance poster penalty.
What arrives
A poster invoice warning about fines if federal or state workplace notices are not posted.
The tell
It implies you must buy their laminated bundle. The U.S. Department of Labor provides required federal posters electronically for free, and requirements vary by statute.
Real underneath
If you have employees, some posters may be required. Not every employer is covered by every law, so use DOL's Poster Advisor and your state labor agency.
Price vs real
$79-$199 poster kitDOL federal posters: free downloads
Response
Do not pay from the invoice. Download federal posters from DOL and state posters from your state agency. Buy lamination only if you want a convenience product.
Should I pay a company to get my EIN?
Search phrases: EIN filing service scam, IRS EIN fee, employer identification number service.
What arrives
An ad or mailer offering an "EIN filing package," "tax ID registration," or expedited federal number after LLC formation.
The tell
The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for an EIN, and the online application issues an EIN immediately if approved.
Real underneath
An EIN is real and often needed for taxes, bank accounts, payroll, and entity administration. Apply only after the legal entity is formed.
Price vs real
$200+ filing serviceIRS EIN: free in minutes online for eligible U.S. applicants
Response
Use IRS.gov directly. A third-party designee should have signed authorization; otherwise, do not send SSN/ITIN data to a random form.
Is this USPTO trademark renewal or monitoring invoice real?
Search phrases: USPTO trademark renewal scam letter, trademark office agency invoice, WIPO register solicitation.
What arrives
A notice using words like "United States," "Trademark," "Office," "Agency," "publication," "renewal," "monitoring," or "registration" after your trademark appears in public records.
The tell
USPTO warns deceptive notices can arrive before application, after filing, or after registration and can threaten loss of rights or costly fines.
Real underneath
Trademark maintenance is real, but USPTO fees are paid directly to USPTO through official systems, not to lookalike directories.
Price vs real
Inflated private invoiceReal fee: verify in USPTO fee schedule for your filing type
Response
Check status in USPTO systems or with your trademark attorney. Do not pay a notice merely because it contains accurate public application data.
Is this domain renewal notice actually a transfer?
Search phrases: domain registry invoice scam, domain slamming letter, website domain renewal notice.
What arrives
A paper or email "Domain Registry" invoice for a domain you own, often timed before expiration and designed to look like a renewal bill.
The tell
The sender is not your registrar, the price is high, and the fine print may authorize transfer or search-engine submission instead of normal renewal.
Real underneath
Domain renewal is real, but it happens at your current registrar account with your locked domain and saved payment method.
Price vs real
$80-$300 "registry" invoiceReal price: your registrar's renewal shown in your account
Response
Log into the registrar you already use. Keep auto-renew, registrar lock, and a shared admin mailbox for domain notices.
Is this Yellow Pages or business directory invoice valid?
Search phrases: Yellow Pages invoice scam, business directory listing scam, free listing bill.
What arrives
A call to "confirm" a free listing, followed by a bill for a directory, advertising renewal, or online listing nobody ordered.
The tell
FTC says scammers use the confirmation call, sometimes with details or recordings, to pressure payment on a later bill.
Real underneath
Advertising contracts are real only if your business approved the vendor, price, term, and deliverable.
Price vs real
$400-$900 directory billReal price: zero unless a known vendor has an approved order
Response
Ask for the signed order and ad proof. If no authorized purchase exists, dispute in writing and do not pay to stop harassment.
Do I need to buy a D-U-N-S, credit, or government-contracting listing?
Search phrases: DUNS listing solicitation, SAM registration service, Unique Entity ID fee.
What arrives
A letter offering business-credit listing, grant access, contractor registration, D-U-N-S assistance, or a "federal vendor profile."
The tell
It blurs private credit products with government registration. SAM.gov now assigns the Unique Entity ID during registration, and you can request one without a full registration if appropriate.
Real underneath
SAM registration is real if you bid on federal contracts or apply for federal assistance. APEX Accelerators offer official free help.
Price vs real
$99-$599 listing packageSAM.gov UEI path: official government routeAPEX assistance: free official resource
Response
Use SAM.gov and Login.gov directly. Pay consultants only for clear services you actually want, not for fake exclusivity.
Did my business really win a grant or award?
Search phrases: business grant processing fee scam, best business award invoice, selected for award fee.
What arrives
"You've been selected" for a grant, plaque, directory award, magazine profile, or local excellence prize, followed by a processing or publishing fee.
The tell
Upfront fees, vague criteria, pressure to approve immediately, and no known application or nomination path.
Real underneath
Real grants have eligibility rules, application portals, deadlines, and award documents. Real awards are transparent about selection and sponsorship.
Price vs real
$199 plaque/profile feeReal grant application: no fee to a random award company
Response
Search the exact award name with "scam" or "complaint." If nobody in your business applied, treat it as advertising.
Is this workers-comp or insurance audit notice real?
Search phrases: workers comp audit solicitation, insurance audit notice scam, payroll audit invoice.
What arrives
A notice about workers-comp coverage, payroll audit, safety compliance, or insurance records with a payment or document request.
The tell
The sender is not your broker, carrier, payroll provider, or state agency, and asks for money or sensitive payroll details before you verify.
Real underneath
Insurance audits can be real. Workers-comp rules vary by state, industry, and employee status.
Price vs real
Penalty or audit fee to unknown senderReal route: carrier/broker/state portal
Response
Call your broker or carrier using the number already in your policy files. Never email payroll records to an unverified address.
Phone and inbox wave

The calls and emails that hit once the business looks alive.

Is this Google Business Profile suspension call real?
Search phrases: Google Business Profile call scam, listing suspended robocall, verify Google listing fee.
What arrives
A robocall or agent says your listing will be suspended, hidden, unverified, or removed unless you press a key or pay.
The tell
Google's third-party policy prohibits partners from misrepresenting as Google through robocalls, guaranteeing top placement, or representing free Google products as pay-for-insertion.
Real underneath
Business Profile is a no-extra-charge Google product. Google may have legitimate profile appeals and limited automated calls, but not pay-or-lose-placement threats.
Price vs real
$99-$499 "verification" feeBusiness Profile: no extra charge from Google
Response
Hang up. Open your Business Profile directly from your Google account and review status there.
Is this SEO or web-presence authority claim real?
Search phrases: SEO invoice scam, search engine optimization fake invoice, website compliance service call.
What arrives
A caller claims to be a Google partner, registry auditor, web compliance team, or search authority with urgent corrections.
The tell
Guaranteed ranking, invented deadlines, bundled "submission" services, and pressure to grant site or profile access during the call.
Real underneath
SEO and website maintenance are real services, but they should start with a proposal, access scope, cancellation terms, and measurable deliverables.
Price vs real
Urgent setup feeReal price: written vendor scope you approved
Response
Require written scope and references. Never grant admin access from a cold call.
Is this utility disconnect-today call real?
Search phrases: business utility disconnect scam, electric company gift card call, past due utility threat.
What arrives
A caller says power, gas, water, or internet will be shut off today unless you pay immediately.
The tell
Gift cards, crypto, wire, Zelle, "payment kiosk," spoofed caller ID, or refusal to let you call the utility yourself.
Real underneath
Utility bills and shutoff notices are real, but your account balance is visible in the utility portal or through the number on a prior bill.
Price vs real
Immediate off-portal paymentReal route: utility account portal or bill number
Response
Hang up. Call the utility from a bill or log in directly. Tell front-desk staff they are not authorized to pay utility threats.
Did we really order toner or office supplies?
Search phrases: toner scam invoice, unordered office supplies scam, phantom supply order.
What arrives
A caller "confirms" printer model or shipping address, then toner, cleaning supplies, paper, or only an invoice arrives.
The tell
No purchase order, no known vendor, inflated price, and aggressive collection calls. FTC has brought office-supply scam cases targeting small businesses and nonprofits.
Real underneath
Supplies are real only when ordered by an authorized buyer through an approved vendor.
Price vs real
Invoice for unordered goodsReal price: approved PO/vendor record
Response
Do not pay. Match against a PO. If unordered merchandise arrived, preserve records and dispute the invoice.
Is this vendor bank-detail change email safe?
Search phrases: business email compromise vendor bank change, invoice wire fraud, fake CEO gift card request.
What arrives
An email from a vendor, owner, manager, or bookkeeper asks to update ACH/wire details, buy gift cards, or pay an invoice urgently.
The tell
New bank account, urgency, secrecy, changed reply-to address, compromised vendor account, or a request that bypasses normal approval.
Real underneath
BEC is a sophisticated transfer-of-funds scam. IC3 says BEC/EAC has been a $55 billion global exposed-loss problem across Oct 2013-Dec 2023 reports.
Price vs real
Full invoice or payroll diversion lossReal control: callback to a number already on file
Response
Verify every payment-detail change by phone using a number you already had. No exceptions for the owner, your largest vendor, or an email from the real account.
Should HR update direct deposit from this email?
Search phrases: payroll diversion phishing, employee direct deposit change scam, HR payroll email scam.
What arrives
An "employee" asks payroll or HR to change direct deposit details before the next pay cycle.
The tell
Email-only request, new bank, urgent timing, personal email address, or an employee who is unavailable for a live callback.
Real underneath
Employees can change direct deposit, but the route should be authenticated through payroll software or identity-checked HR process.
Price vs real
One or more paychecks divertedReal route: payroll portal or known-number callback
Response
Freeze email-only payroll changes. Require portal login with MFA or direct callback to the employee's known number.
Is this OSHA, health inspector, or licensing visit real?
Search phrases: fake OSHA inspector scam, health inspector call scam, business license inspection fee.
What arrives
A caller or visitor claims to be from OSHA, health department, fire marshal, alcohol control, licensing, or code enforcement and demands immediate payment or records.
The tell
No badge verification, pressure to pay on the spot, refusal to let you call the agency, or threats not matched by written notice.
Real underneath
Inspections and licenses can be real. State and local agencies have jurisdiction-specific procedures and identification.
Price vs real
Cash/card "inspection fee"Real route: agency office and official payment portal
Response
Ask for credentials, keep the person in a public area, and call the agency through a number you find yourself before giving access or payment.
Should we pay this unfamiliar or past-due invoice?
Search phrases: fake business invoice scam, past due invoice scam, AP invoice controls small business.
What arrives
An invoice for domain registration, tech support, SEO, supplies, subscriptions, ads, or compliance, sometimes marked "past due."
The tell
FTC's 2026 small-business alert describes unexpected invoices for things not ordered, often made to look legitimate or tied to well-known brands.
Real underneath
Invoices should map to a known vendor, approved purchase, received service, and agreed price.
Price vs real
Whatever AP pays without checkingReal control: no PO/known vendor, no payment
Response
Use a two-line AP policy: no payment without PO or known vendor; all bank-detail changes verified by phone at a known number.
Response protocols

What to do when the letter is in your hand.

1

If unsure

Search for the agency or vendor yourself, not from the notice. Compare entity ID, due date, payee, amount, and account status. If it is not in the agency portal or vendor account, it is not payable yet.

2

If you paid

Contact the card issuer or bank immediately and ask about dispute, chargeback, recall, stop payment, or account lock. Recovery odds are much lower for wire, check, gift card, and crypto, but speed still matters.

3

If mail keeps coming

Keep a folder of examples, mark private solicitations as non-payable, and brief whoever opens mail. The formation-triggered wave usually subsides after the first public-record scrape cycle.

4

For teams

Use one AP rule: no payment without a PO or known vendor record; all bank-detail changes verified by phone at a number already on file. That stops most small-business invoice fraud.

Where to report

  • FTC: report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • USPIS: report mail scams and mail fraud patterns to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
  • IC3: report BEC, phishing, wire, crypto, and cyber-enabled fraud at IC3.gov.
  • State AG/SoS: report state-specific corporate mailers to your Attorney General or Secretary of State consumer alert channel.

Two-line AP policy to paste into your handbook

No invoice is paid unless it maps to a known vendor, approved purchase, received service, and expected amount.

No bank-account, wire, ACH, payroll, or mailing-address change is accepted by email alone; verify by phone using a number already on file.

Common mistakes

Anti-patterns that keep the scam channel profitable.

Paying "because it is only $90"

Small invoices are priced below the pain of investigation. Payment marks your business as responsive and may invite more solicitations.

Using the letter's phone number

That only proves the sender answers its own mail. Verify through the agency, vendor, registrar, utility, bank, or portal you find independently.

Tossing legal-shaped mail

ADA, copyright, patent, and debt claims can be inflated or abusive while still requiring a real response protocol.

Trusting a known vendor's email

BEC often uses compromised real accounts. A real email address does not authenticate new bank details.

Letting new staff open mail cold

The receptionist, intern, bookkeeper, or spouse needs the same short briefing: solicitations are not bills; legal-shaped mail gets verification.

Staying silent after paying

Report it. FTC, USPIS, state AG, and Secretary of State alerts are built from patterns businesses report.

Source register

Primary sources checked for volatile facts.

State filing mailers
California SoS misleading solicitations
Florida Sunbiz unofficial mail notices
Colorado compliance-services alert
State fee anchors
Colorado business fee schedule
Colorado periodic report fee release
Florida annual report instructions
Free official paths
IRS EIN page
DOL workplace posters
SAM.gov entity registration and UEI
USPTO solicitations
USPTO trademark scam warnings
USPTO examples of solicitations
USPTO non-USPTO patent/trademark solicitations
Small-business scams
FTC small-business scam guide
FTC 2026 fake invoice alert
FTC office-supply cases
Phone, BEC, and reporting
Google Business Profile third-party policies
IC3 BEC PSA
FTC report fraud contact page
Legal-shaped threats
ADA.gov web accessibility guidance
Copyright Office CCB remedies
FTC patent assertion entity report
Mail fraud reporting
USPIS report mail fraud
USPIS scam examples
USPIS law-enforcement guide
Related controls
Scam Defense for Parents
Personal Cybersecurity
Data Broker Opt-Out