State urges business owners to be aware of fraudulent mailing

Secretary of State Kim Wyman is cautioning Washington business owners to be aware of a misleading and potentially fraudulent mailing that purports to be an official bill for business registration.

“We’re working with the Attorney General’s Office – the agency that investigates and prosecutes consumer fraud – to see if further action should be taken to protect businesses in Washington,” Wyman said.

An Edmonds company received a mailing asking that $121.86 be sent to an Olympia post office box by July 31. It warned that “your state annual report will not be filed until payment is received.” However, the mailing wasn’t from the secretary of state.

Any business owner who receives a registration-related bill from an unknown third-party company should contact the attorney general’s consumer protection division or file an online complaint at atg.wa.gov/fileacomplaint.aspx.

Businesses and charities in Washington can verify their filing status with the secretary of state by visiting sos.wa.gov/corps. Registration-related questions can be answered at (360) 725-0377 or e-mailed to corps@sos.wa.gov.