State Corporation Commission warns of scam

February 04, 2013

The Arizona Corporation Commission is warning business owners against a scam that could cost them $125. 

The Commission’s been getting reports of a scam that goes around every few years or so. A group calling itself the “Corporate Records Service” is sending solicitations to businesses. It offers -- for a $125 fee -- to prepare and file the minutes of a company’s annual meeting with the Corporation Commission.

There’s just one problem. “The Corporation Commission does not require that companies submit these annual minutes,” said Rebecca Wilder, a spokeswoman for the Commission.

She said the solicitations look official and often have actual information on them about the businesses to which they’re sent.

But Wilder said if you get a mailing that doesn’t seem quite right: "Please check into it. We would hate for any business to pay a fee that is not required, and certainly to someone who is not affiliated with the Corporation Commission in any way.”

Wilder said in past cases of this kind of scam, the state Attorney General’s office has investigated and taken legal action.