LANSING, Mich. – The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is warning of a fake government form being mailed out to businesses that asks for a $150 fee.
Some Michigan businesses have reported receiving an official-looking form entitled the "2015 Annual Minutes Form" from the "Division of Corporate Services" that, among other things, instructs the recipient to send back a $150 processing fee.
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Shelly Edgerton, LARA chief deputy director, warns that the document may look official but the claimed government office doesn't exist and there is no such fee.
"Beware of mailings that may appear to come from the State of Michigan offering assistance in performing non-existent or non-required services," said Edgerton. "No such letters are being sent from the LARA Corporations Division, no matter how official they may look."
The form implies that Michigan requires corporations and limited liability companies need to complete and return it with a $150 payment for the preparation of corporate meeting minutes.
The instructions list the return address as 3105 S. Martin Luther King Blvd, Suite 317, Lansing, MI 48910.
Edgerton says that any Michigan corporation that receives a notice to have annual meeting minutes prepared and pay a fee to avoid dissolution of their corporation are advised to do the following:
1. Keep the notice, mailing envelope, and return envelope.
2. Contact the United States Postal Inspections Service to report mail fraud at (877) 876-2455 or https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/
3. Or contact the Michigan Office of the Attorney General at P.O. Box 30212, Lansing, MI 48909.
Edgerton advises to review when any official-looking document carefully and read the small print.
If you are not sure, please contact the LARA Corporations Division at (517) 241-6470.