MADISON (NBC 26) — Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and Better Business Bureau Wisconsin are warning businesses about misleading solicitations that look like invoices.
The solicitations are designed to look like invoices arriving through postal mail from “WI Certificate Service.” According to the Wisconsin DFI, the solicitation is designed to look like it is from the Secretary of State and requests payment of $72.50 for a “Certificate of Status.”
These solicitations are not being sent from DFI, and the requested payment amount far exceeds the $10 fee DFI charges to obtain an official certificate of status online. The solicitation is not a valid invoice and businesses are advised to not pay it, DFI says.
BBB Serving Wisconsin conducted research on these solicitations. The organization found the address used by “WI Certificate Service” is actually a Madison UPS store and the toll-free phone number listed on the mailing is not a working number.
Buried within a paragraph on the mailing is the following sentence, which could easily be missed, “WI Certificate Service is not affiliated with any government or state agency and this is a solicitation for your business.”
“These types of solicitations can mislead consumers into overpaying for documents that businesses can obtain from DFI directly,” said DFI Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “Carefully review all notices received and contact DFI with questions or to purchase an official certificate of status.”
Misleading solicitations that are designed to look like invoices may contain a due date and look similar to a government form. They may even contain a logo or an entity’s ID number and business information, which can be obtained from public records.
DFI and BBB remind businesses to carefully review all solicitations, notices and websites that offer various business filings, registrations and copy and certification services at prices above the required fees.
Contact DFI with questions regarding business filings, registration, certification or other services via email at DFICorporations@dfi.wisconsin.gov or call 608-261-7577. For more information on current scams, consumer laws and publications and how to file a complaint, call the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Consumer Protection Hotline toll-free at 800-422-7128 or email DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov.
