A new scam has just surfaced, pegging Michigan businesses as its victims. Recently, an entity calling itself “Corporate Records Service” has been sending corporations across the state what appears to be an official request to complete a “2013-Annual Corporate Records Form.”

The instructions with the form indicate that corporations should submit the form prior to the response date of August 28, 2013, along with a $125 payment to a Lansing address.

Click here to view the mailing.

Be warned that this is NOT an official mailing from the State of Michigan. Corporate Records Service is a non-governmental entity and has not been contracted by any government agency to provide its services.  Michigan business owners are not required by law to file the form with Corporate Records Service.

Attempting to create confusion among unsuspecting businesses by using official-looking documents, Corporate Records Service is soliciting to assist businesses with non-required services.  This is not the first time this entity has preyed on Michigan businesses, as well as other businesses across the nation in the past year. The solicitation does contain a disclaimer at the bottom making businesses aware that completing this form will not satisfy compliance with state laws, but is often overlooked by its official design.

To clarify, the State of Michigan does require corporations to file annual reports. However, legitimate notices and mailings to Michigan corporations are issued from LARA’s (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) Corporations Division and are mailed to the resident agent at the registered office address on record.

Many of our corporate clients have already received this mailing – be on the lookout. If you have received a questionable letter, please contact LARA’s Corporations Division at 517.241.6470 or your Michigan Doeren Mayhew representative at 248.244.3000 to verify its legitimacy.