News Summary
The Louisiana Secretary of State has issued a warning to LLCs about fraudulent letters claiming their annual reports are overdue. The letters, sent by a company called Firstep, threaten administrative dissolution if immediate payment is not made. In reality, the official site for filing is geauxBIZ, with a much lower fee. Business professionals are urged to remain vigilant and verify any correspondence regarding filings to avoid falling victim to scams.
Louisiana – The Louisiana Secretary of State has alerted individuals operating Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) in the state about fraudulent letters claiming their annual reports are overdue. These deceptive notices are being sent by a company called Firstep, through their website busfile.org. The letters inaccurately threaten LLC owners with administrative dissolution or revocation if they fail to file the reports immediately through the company’s site, requesting a fee of $129.
In stark contrast, the actual process for filing annual reports is facilitated through the Secretary of State’s official geauxBIZ website, which charges only $35. The Secretary of State’s office has made it clear that LLCs that do not file on time will not face dissolution or revocation of their business status, countering the claims made in these fraudulent letters.
The issue has drawn attention from local business professionals, including Bob Thames, who owns Single Source Business Solutions in Shreveport. Thames assists in the setup of about 10 to 15 LLCs every month and points out the growing problem of junk mail targeting business owners. He emphasizes that nearly 99% of the unsolicited mail consists of irrelevant offers, such as credit card advertisements.
Thames recounted an instance involving one of his clients, a diesel mechanic shop, which received one of the bogus letters. After seeking his advice, Thames confirmed the notice was spam and reassured the client that it posed no legitimate threat.
To combat such fraudulent activities, Secretary of State Nancy Landry has advised LLC owners to remain vigilant and informed. She noted that all legitimate correspondence concerning business filings will be sent either through the geauxBIZ portal or on official state letterhead. This measure aims to ensure that business owners can distinguish between authentic notifications and deceitful ones easily.
Furthermore, Landry encourages LLC owners to register for email notifications from the Secretary of State’s office. These notifications would provide timely updates on due dates and alerts about potential fraud. The system is designed to send notifications only once daily and will only do so if there are new matching items, helping prevent any information overload.
Business owners are advised to thoroughly vet any correspondence regarding annual reports and filings to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes. This recent wave of misleading notices highlights the importance of verifying the authenticity of business communications. The Secretary of State’s office remains committed to protecting LLCs and providing accurate information to help business owners navigate their reporting obligations.
In conclusion, Louisiana LLC owners should be skeptical of unsolicited letters regarding annual report filings. By utilizing the resources available through the Secretary of State’s office and ensuring filings are done through the official geauxBIZ website, business owners can thwart scams that attempt to exploit them financially. The potential threats posed by fraudulent companies emphasize the need for greater awareness and vigilance in managing business affairs.
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