I got a very official looking letter from the “Compliance Annual Minutes Board” telling me I had to pay $150 to comply with blah blah blah for my small business. I’m about to leave on a trip, I’m trying to quickly get things done and I was about to pay the $150 but I thought I’d check with Wayne first and he said to make sure it was coming from (and going to the CA FTB) and I couldn’t find that anywhere. Hmm. A quick Google search got me quickly to all of these people.
Lots of people have paid. It’s a scam.
It’s a jungle out there.
Digg this article to help spread the word even more to save us all some money. Thanks.
April 2009 update thanks to Bob Gates
A while back Bradley Charbonneau related his experience receiving one of these “corporate compliance” or “corporate governance” solicitations. They are BOGUS!! Corporations generally have great latitude in requirements for minutes, annual meetings, etc. Wayne Cameron, Dan Wheeler or I can explain in further detail and advise you.
The only recent EXCEPTION is the Statement of Information required by the California Secretary of State. This is a simple statement but MUST be filed by the deadline since recently the penalties have been greatly increased by the Gubernator as a revenue raising measure (like parking fines!!).
Best, Bob
Customer Alert Regarding Misleading Solicitations (PDF)
Bradley Charbonneau Website development that empowers you to control the content on your own website. At Likoma, we build sites that are easily updatable so you can rank higher with the search engines as you regularly add new articles, case studies, or anything else new and useful, to your own website -- using just a login name and password.
All posts by Bradley Charbonneau
I received the same letter. Because it seems so fishy, I decided to do some research… I am so grateful for posts like this! Thank you!
i got fucked it looked official it said this is not afilliated with government but it said i had to do it i made a copy but it still fucked me fuk them i am hunting them down through my bank and will find out soon who and what they r. it was cashed at bank of america on n california st in california. those bastards will pay me back i am pissed and i dont like getting fucked……….. hahahahahaahahaha
just want u all to know that this is a bunch of crap belive u will be screwed .
I think there is a copy cat version out there (Annual minutes Compliance Board), but the fee is only $95.00. I smelled caca right away having filed tax forms for 30 years. However, I can see how this scam could take in some people.
Yeah, mine came in the mail today. I guess they must have gotten in trouble, now in tiny letters at the bottom they quote “U.S.C. 39 & 3001 (d) This is A Solicitation For The Order Of Service. And Not A Bill, Invoice or Statement Due. No Obligation To Make Any Payments; Unless You Accept This Offer.”
All this after quoting other California Corporations Code sections in several other places. First tipoff is that the Corporation Number they printed is not my actual Calif. Corp. number, then again, I don’t know too many business owners who actually know what theirs is…
I received one too and mine also applies like James’s statement. I knew there was something wierd I have never heard or remember having to pay a annual minutes complaince fee….so that;s why I decided to check thank goodness for websites and especially for the internet because alot of people would be totally screwed!!!!!!
Thanks alot everyone fo posting youv’e all saved me time and money. I hate how these wanna be’s try to scam people. It’s hard enough trying to be a small business owner without people like this.
thank for helping me find the truth
I got the same letter. It looked official to me and I had no doubt, but I need to google it first not becuase it seems fish but I had to know what president, CEO, and directors are. My husband just started this business and he hasn’t hired anyone. Thank god I have internet access at home. Thank you all .. you guys saved me $150 or more~
I got the same scam and it looks so official. The state should close these guys down.
I got one today and I went online find you guys, thank god. WHY the government is not close them down. I would like spend 60 cents return the letter with “FUCK YOU”
It’s BS and even spending the cost of postage to respond is more than they deserve. I think I can contribute most by just spreading the word to others to be on the watch for this scam
Damn these people! Thank you for posting this so I could confirm this scam.
Someone should have a website of scams listed for us all to refer to. I would but I am computer challenged. Does this site exist already?
Also, has anyone ever got a scam bill from Boom Global Media Inc? They tried to get us earlier this year and they are back at it!
I just got the same letter in the mail. They do a great job of making it look like an official document. These co**suckers should go straight to hell.
Please warn all your friends with businesses.
I just recieved the same letter today and wrote in large bright letters Scam take me off your list. Tell everyone you know that has a corporation to beware.
Got Same letter today…Will not pay…Thank you…
wow…thank you guys. I just got one today too.
shit those fucking people! what a idiot! I paid $150 to those idiot! anyway wish them luck! they will not last because god will take care of them and they belong to hell.
just got one today and first thing i did was research it sure i enough i thought it was bullshit just like it is thanks thats going in the trash
Hi, can anyone tell me if we need to actually file annual minutes for the State of CA? I can’t work this out… and if I need to file these can someone give me the link to the paperwork? Thanks!
Why haven’t these bastards been sued?
I just received an invoice from Boom Global Media today for a bi-annual listing/hosting fee renewal $297.83. MAJOR SCAM artists. More people need to know that they are BOGUS.
We just received the “Annual Minutes Disc. Statement” today—-$95.00… I couldn’t remember this fee so I looked online for some kind of info and found this page.
Thank you SO MUCH. Can’t these people be put away!!!???
We received our “Annual Minutes Compliance Board” invoice today for $95.00 too!!!
Is there anyone out there that can stop them???
Thank you so much for this posting!
We received “annual Minutes Compliance Board” invoice today for $95.- and almost to send the check and the document.
They look like government official letter. I think there should be some punishment or some legal process. We spend our precious time and energy. Most of our staffs were so confused that we had staffs’ meeting to decide it. Three staffs lost their time more than one hour. Moreover, psychological impact on the staff. She was almost panic whether she had to send it or not. Who should compensate them?
My message is to Christine from February 13th, 2008. We also have received an invoice from Boom Global Media – how did you know that they are a scam?
I recieved a Comp. Annual Minutes Board letter for 150.00 address Temecula Ca, I looked and found it was a scam just prior to finding this site. There is a ph number on the form 1-866-390-1176. Give them hell, I’m going to today.
I just received my letter too. Luckly I knew a little about corporate compliance and this came to me as a surprise. But I thought maybe it’s some new laws I might not be aware of. So I google the form to see if it’s something that would link to Secretary of State. Instead I found these messages. THANK YOU!!! These people are making a lot of money for no apparent purpose. OMG!!!
Hi Everyone,
I received the same letter in the mail as all of you. “Compliance Annual Minutes Board” pay $150.00. I am a VP of Finance for a small start-up. I have held off with paying this amount b/c with my past experience working as a Tax Consultant for fortune 500 Companies, this didn’t seem right. I have called and made a complaint to Small Business Liaison (916) 845-4669 in Sacramento. If you are getting scam mail that looks real, call them to confirm and report this problem. The state will go after these people.
The internet is a great place to call out scammers. But remember most fees that you will receive will be from the state you do business in and the Federal Government. There are exceptions but most of the times you will know those since you have signed up for it. Such as being incorporated- you have to pay an annual fee to the state you are incorporated in.
If you are unsure of anything don’t pay it. Call the state right away and ask; most of the time they know or will tell you what department to contact for more information. Just so everyone knows. The law is that you must keep minutes if you are a register corporation; however you never have to pay to keep them. You are just required to hand your annual meeting records over to the state if sequestered by the state.
I wish everyone the best and stay quick on your feet. Small businesses are easy targets for scammers.
I just received (for the second time) a letter from “Annual Minutes Compliance Board” letter demanding payment of $95. I’m filing a complaint with the Public Inquiry Unit of the Attorney General’s office. You can print the form and mail it in with a copy of the letter attached, or you can fill in the complaint form and submit it on-line. Here’s the link: http://ag.ca.gov/contact/complaint_form.php?cmplt=CL
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE LINK TO FILE A COMPLAINT: HERES MY COMPLAINT LETTER. :
Our church was newly incorporated these scammers sent very official letter saying we must files our minutes and all officers on our corp. board for a fee of $129. I ALMOST fell for it!
I suggest the state of ca FTB include warnings to all new corporations that they are the only ones who we will be paying any such fees to and actually list some names. This is unacceptable! I’m certain they will never be caught because they change names so easily and just get a hotel suite for a week or so, but PLEASE, PLEASE, at the least…include a warning from the state of CA TO EVERY NEW CORPORATION TO BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS. That won’t cost much for the state to do, please.
Get online and read all the people, rule followers and good people who want to be in compliance….read how many are burned everyday by these scammers.
My husband left the paper on our kitchen table for me to send off payment this morning….we really dont have the money, so I was really looking to see if I could pay it later or somehow make payments but it is due Nov 11th….then I read the Bold print (so they know the rules, this is true, and are compliant with their rules of scamming), that stated “This service has not been approved or endorsed by any govt agencies.” lol However; before and after this quote they write “CALIFORNIA B & B CODE 17533.6 AND U. S. C. 39 & 3001 (d) ….
They are good………..really good……looks so official. PLEASE PROTECT LAW ABIDING TAX PAYERS FROM THESE PREDATERS!!! at the lease, give us a heads up to look for them.
Thank you!
(Vice President of a brand new Corporation, A church…. These people have no soul! )
Got my letter today as well. Thanks, Brenda, for the tip. I, too, will submit this. It’s a good thing we’re all saavy and check this out but how many people don’t. Given that these postings started last April of 2007 and I just received mine in February 2008, you can bet they’re making enough money to keep sending them out. Mine wanted $95 so I guess they have a variety of amounts.
Compliance Annual Minutes Board Directors & Shareholders…Do I really have to pay this $150.00? I decided to do some checking and I believe it is a scam also. I need help! I am not going to send this until I hear from you. Actually, I am not going to send it PERIOD! Please give me some insight. Thanks.
I DID NOT PAY THIS. I DID SOME MORE BACKGROUND CHECKING AND DECIDED NOT TO SEND IT. I SPOKE TO MY COROPORATE LAWYER AND HE SAID IT WAS A GOOD THING I DIDN’T SEND IT. I HOPE MORE PEOPLE CHECK BEFORE THEY SEND THEIR $.
Mine showed up as a “Bi-Annual Service Online, Business to business Guide, Web:http://www.boomglobalmedia.com Listing includes Hosting Fee Invoice for $297.83.
Please forward complaints about this organization to:
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SERVICE CENTER
ATTN: MAIL FRAUD
222 S. RIVERSIDE PLAZA STE 1250
CHICAGO IL 60606-6100
I got the notice. Try to locate a phone number of the company and found none. Then decided to try Google and you all confirmed it is a BIG SCAM. Thenks for posting all of your email, it help me save $150.
Just got 2 identical letters from Annual Minutes Compliance Board with a Los Angeles address asking for $125. It’s crap, as are the other dozen or so I’ve received in the last 3 years….
In todays mail I got 2 identical letters from Annual Minutes Compliance Board asking for $125, and one from Corporate Business Bureau asking for $150, all with a Los Angeles address. It’s April 1st, so that says it all. This is crap, as are the other dozen or so I’ve received in the last 3 years….
I’m a newly elected president of my fraternal order, and we just received a request to pay the $95 also. Because I’m new, and sceptical, I’m checking the internet for info. Thanks everyone. We’ll save the money this year!
I work at a law firm that is listed as the agent for process service for several corporations, therefore, I receive several of these letters at our office every few months. It also seemed fishy to me, because the return addresses constantly changed from one POBOX to another and I notice slight variations of the company name from one month to the next. I attempted to contact the company and actually got ahold of a person who literally refused give me his name or an actual street address for the company’s main offices. He told me that I was “getting too personal”? That was enough for me to believe that this was not a legitimate company; your site confirmed it. Thank you.
Thank you very much for the postings!!! I was just about to complete and send in $150 because the letter stated the due date was $150. The address I got was EMC #84181 PO Box 515381, Los Angeles, CA 90051-6681 and it looks like PO Box 515381 is a remote PO box address issued by earth class mail. The only disclaimer I saw was “State Corporate Compliance has not affiliation with the Office of the California Secretary of State”. They even included a blue pamphlet on “USPS Identity Theft Protection Tips” but cheap ink was used which made it smear over the rest of the docs. Truly thankful for your post.
Bastards! how can they get away with this. It enrages me!
Just received a notice from Bradstreet International Inc./boomglobalmedia.com requestiong $297.83 for “Bi-Annual Listing Fees.” The letter states that they’ve taken over my account from “Wallstreet B2B” and there are no cancellations after 30 Days. I have no business with this company nor did I ever have any business or agreement with a “Wallstreet B2B.”
I called to tell them to take me off their list as I have no business with them. Someone named, “Sophie” (with a heavy Latin or Philipino accent) responded by saying, “So you want to cancel?”
I said, “No, I’ve never had any business with you.”
She then hung up on me.
Seems extremely fishy and I’m 99% sure this is another scam. Tried to do some research on them to see if others had any experience with them and was lead to this site. (Ive also had the Minutes Compliance Scam sent to me too).
Does anyone have any information on this Boom Media company or where I can forward my concerns and/or report them?
With regard to the Bradstreet International/ Boomglobalmedia.com thing… I should also say… as I mentioned, it says, “no cancellations after 30 days and the invoce is dated 3/13/08 with a “fax sheet” dated 3/10/08 and of course the postmark on the envelope says 4/10/08.
Ah yes, it must be April. I received my annual request for $150 for a service that is unnecessary and probably just plain fraud. If I actually sent the $150, would they actually do something?
I was talking about this topic with someone and they said it wasn’t necessarily a “scam,” but that they were offering a service that you could do yourself, they were just offering to do it for you for a fee. But I don’t think that’s the case. I think they’re tricking you into sending money to them for something that, yes, you could do yourself, but that they won’t actually even do for you. So you’re not paying for a service, you’re paying for nothing. That sounds quite a bit like a scam or fraud to me.
Just got off the phone with “Sofie” for the third time. Got another fax after telling them we are not paying for something I have never heard of or agreed to pay (my name was even spelled incorrectly). This latest fax said only call us if you are willing to pay and that they were about to sell our contract to collections.
I said “for the last time, you better show me something I signed, or I am going to let our legal department handle your faxes.” She then said that all her files are boxed up in another location, she then laughed and hung up.
Sad thing is, there are a lot of people sending Boom Global Media checks or credit card numbers for $297.83
With regard to Boom Media, let them send it to collections. Collections would then in turn have to prove that you had an agreement with “Boom Media,” and that’s obviously not going to happen.
Isn’t there anyone that this can be reported to? In a way, this is worse than the compliance notices because, while the compliance notices tries to trick you into thinking you HAVE to pay them, it does basically say (in small print and unclear words) that they are a service you can purchase. This Boom Media thing is telling people there already is an agreement in place.
I received an invoice from Boom Global yesterday. I called them to today and notified them that the invoice is in dispute until they can provide a copy of the signed contract. Miss Sophie promptly told me that she will have to pull the file. I informed her that this invoice will not be paid, unless they can prove we signed a contract for this so-called “Bi-Annual Service Online w/ inludes hosting fee for the $297.83. I intend to turn them in for mail fraud as well as to the better business bureau.
That was exactly how it started with me.
This is from Boom Global Media.
Like many companies these days, we outsource certain business functions, including sales and marketing in our case. Because of this, errors sometimes occur in billing in a handful of cases (see above.)
Boom Global Media runs a reputable business in the Internet Marketing Field, and continually strives to improve that business.
In the few cases where disputes have arisen, complaints have been successfully resolved to the satisfaction of all parties involved.
If you have any questions about about Boom Global Media, please refer them to Boom Global Media.
Thank you,
Mark Thomas
COO & Human Resources Manager
Boom Global Media Inc.
I have just received a “Third and Final Reminder” by fax from BoomGlobalMedia (Martha in A/R sent it). This is the first contact we’ve had from them, and an obvious bully tactic with the threat of collections.
Its the same invoice many of you have mentioned, 297.83 (+GST) for Bi-Annual Service.
Thanks for the Info!
Would Mark Thomas leave his phone number….that would be the professional thing to do in customer care……..
Thanks for posting. I got scamed for past 3 years. It looks so official. Thoes guys should go to hell. I’m going to report to BBB. Dont’ sent money to Corporate Records Compliance Office 125 Wolf Rd. Ste #306 Albany, NY 12205 Tel (866) 506-0145
I received 2nd scam letter today. Annual Minutes Disclosre Statemetn. Annual Fee $125. to different address. New York Corporate Compliance Business Division , 1843 Central Ave #168 Albany, NY 12205-4735. Tel (866)468-6619. I will file with U.S. postal office Fault report.
This is for Mark Thomas
Maybe if your company would provide the documentation that is requested, your company would not be put in this light. Sarbanes Oxley requires companies to have documentation, and you apparently are not Sarbanes Compliant.
Our company has also been getting faxes from Bradstreet International / BoomGlobalMedia for a past due invoice for on-line listing/hosting ($297.83 – I love that amount).
Note that the address for Bradstreet International (295 Greenwich Street, #296) very likely is directed to the Mailboxes Etc. that is located on the ground floor of that building.
Quick note. I didn’t read all of these, but I got one today in Texas from State Corporate Compliance for the Annual Minutes. You can get really nailed here in Texas. The fee, if paid on time, is $325! If after June 30, 2008, the fee is $375!!!! Thought it looked official, but I knew I filed all of my required documents as I used a trusted attorney due of the special structure of my LLC. Was going to ask him before I paid, but found these posts. Look out everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the post. Unfortunately, they will probably get away with it since this doesn’t hurt a “general consumer”.
I will mirror the above complaints. They have an “invoice” they’ve been trying to get us to pay for $297.83, said they purchased Wall Street B2B and got all their old records and found all the old records that hadn’t been paid, yadda, yadda. Gave an excuse as to why they couldn’t produce an invoice that my CFO had signed.
If they did turn over to collections, they’d be roasted alive – they couldn’t stand a chance without signed documents. BBB has 14 complaints in last 12 – 36 months.
Last thing “Martha” said on the phone to me was that “from what you’re saying there’s obviously nothing more she can do, we can pay by Friday or she will turn over to collections. Then she just said bye and hung up… seriously??
Scam, scam, scam. SCAM.
Mark Thomas’ little letter up there is so phony!! “In the few cases where disputes have arisen, complaints have been successfully resolved to the satisfaction of all parties involved.” Really?? Is this accomplished by hanging up on a so-called “client”??
This one amazes me even more: “If you have any questions about about Boom Global Media, please refer them to Boom Global Media.” What exactly does that mean??
Incredible. I’ll wait for my collections letter and phone call!!! LOL!
Thank you for posting this! I just got the letter today as well, and freaked! Then I remembered, minutes is an internal corporate document. The fee was $150 and the address was in Hemet, CA. I called the number provided on the letter and once I heard the answering machine — I knew it was a scam. I wonder how many people pay this. Will file a complaint with the BBB. a
I got the same letter today. Thanks a lot for all who has posted messages regarding this scam. Saved me money and time.Govt should do something in concern with such scams.
I am glad I googled and found all these postings.
I was irritated also since there is so much to do in a small business and now this letter.
I almost paid!! Wrote the check and then did research and then distroyed the check….
Since there are so many people who might have already paid, someone got away with a lot of money!
SCAM.
I got one in the mail today, looked quite official. After seeing the $150.00 annual fee, decided to Google them. The creeps!
I enjoyed reading all your responses.
Yep – just as a suspected – a scam – what a good seal on the letter makes it look like you better pay, or else. Do not send money!
BOOM GLOBAL MEDIA – BUSTED BY THE FEDS!!!!!
June 19, 2008
Federal authorities arrested a man accused of mailing fake invoices to 25,000 business throughout the U.S., raking in an alleged $7 million as result.
The U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia for the Southern District of New York said Emanuel Medeiros, who often operated under the name “Joseph Garcia,” used two phony businesses to bill the companies for Internet advertising they hadn’t done.
One of his shell companies, Boom Global Media Inc., would send out thousands of “renewal” bills for its services, asking for $297.83, and threatening to charge its victims a penalty of 2% a month on their nonexistent overdue accounts. Boom Global would even threaten to report companies to credit agencies if they didn’t pay up.
Medeiros, a Toronto resident, used a Manhattan commercial mail receiving agency to, mailing approximately 200 to 400 letters every two weeks for four years. If convicted for mail fraud, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
PDF of the indictment here: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/June08/medeirosarrestpr.pdf
Thanks for the great info. I hope you’ll follow this with some more great content.
I got this fishy mail too today asking for $150 filing fees. Thank you guys for posting this here. The mailing address is listed as below:
Compliance Annual Minutes Board
Business Processing Division
P.O. Box 12012
Hemet, CA 9256
I was about to call my attorney to confirm if I need to pay. Now no need to do that. It’s a fraud. Thank you all!!!
Thanks to post this info. It save a lot of people. I am almost get into it.
Our company received two notices today. They were labeled Disclosure Statement – Board of Business Compliance – Annual Minutes Division – Shareholders and Directors)
The form states that the annual fee due is $125. Even though the form ‘looks’ legitimate, if one reviews the form, there is NO telephone number and NO website address listed on the form.
There must be some way to find out who is responsible for this scam and bring them to justice!!
The compliance annual minutes board fee of $150.00 is a scam. Thank you for the information.
I received similar papers. Mine is California Corporate Services – Annual Minutes Disclosure Statement, required me to fill out director/shareholder/address/phone number, etc and pay $150 to order the so-called corporate minutes, addressed to California Corporate Services, Business Division, 3308 El Camino Ave, #300-609, Sacramento, CA 95821 (I searched this address in google, and think the scam steal the address from the located business). The scam paper is not printed on letterhead, nor has any phone number or web address. It looks official and similar to the format of Statement of Information from California Secretary of State. Thank you for posting comments/articles about this scam, so that we can find out the truth and protect ourself and business. A way to retaliate the scam? I send them a “check” to let them know that I know it is a scam. No money for them! Don’t be fooled.
I received this official notice today, 8/7/08 and thought – what is going on. I called information nothing; I called their ’866′ number it was full so I decided to ‘google’. Thanks for your responds on this website. What a scam!
Feds: Canadian Engaged In Fake Invoice Scam — and the website is still active. Why hasn’t their website been taken down yet. And Mr Mark Thomas either ignored all signs or just didn’t open his eyes to what this guy was doing.
Feds: Canadian Engaged In Fake Invoice Scam
Posted on Friday, 20 of June , 2008 at 6:28 pm
NEW YORK—A Canadian is accused of perpetrating a mass-mail, fake invoice scam that targeted approximately 25,000 businesses throughout the United States and abroad, and yielded an estimated $7 million in proceeds.
Emanuel Medeiros, 47, of Toronto, is charged with one count of mail fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Prosecutors said Medeiros’ scheme involved mailing to thousands of companies throughout the world phony bills for bogus services that the Victim Companies had not agreed to purchase. Medeiros, who sometimes used the name “Joseph Garcia,” conducted business as Boom Global Media Inc., or another company, Bradstreet International. These companies held themselves out as internet-based business listing services, purporting to offer a “business to business guide,” which could provide “cost-effective Internet Advertising” enabling customers to “showcase [their] goods and/or services” and “recruit talented and qualified people for [their]organization.”
In fact, however, prosecutors say Boom Global did not provide the services claimed. Instead, Medeiros allegedly used Boom Global to send bills to thousands of Victim Companies, which bills were styled as “RENEWAL” notices, even though the Victim Companies had not previously purchased services from Boom Global. These bills, most of which charged the Victim Companies $297.83, also threatened to charge Victim Companies a penalty of 2% per month for “overdue accounts,” even though the Victim Companies had not purchased services from Boom Global.
While a number of these “RENEWAL” notices were ignored because the Victim Company had not actually agreed to purchase services from Boom Global, a large number of Victim Companies nevertheless were duped into paying the money demanded in the bill. Through his fraudulent scheme, Medeiros reportedly induced approximately 25,000 Victim Companies to pay fees, yielding an estimated $7 million in fraudulent proceeds.
One Victim Company reported receiving a number of facsimiles and e-mails from Boom Global which, among other things, threatened that Boom Global would report the Victim Company to a collection agency if the company failed to pay Boom Global’s bill. The Victim Company ultimately paid the bill because it was concerned that its credit rating would be affectedif it failed to do so. Other Victim Companies simply paid Boom Global’s bill in error, even though they had not agreed to purchase any services from Boom Global.
Medeeiros allegedly used an address on Greenwich Street in Manhattan as the purported address of Boom Global, but that location is in fact a commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA). Medeiros allegedly paid the CMRA approximately $1,000 per month to mail approximately 200 to 400 letters every two weeks for the past four years. Mail to Boom Global received at the Greenwich Street address would be forwarded to MEDEIROS in Canada through a commercial carrier. In addition, Boom Global has a website, http://www.boomglobalmedia.com, which appears on its face to allow a user to search for companies providing certain products and services but actually does little more than provide basic information of the sort readily accessible on a Victim Company’s web site, including contact information and the names of a few company executives. 6-20-08
Comments or questions? Do you have a news tip? Email us at news@northcountrygazette.org
We also received 2 notices in the mail today requesting disclosure of our Board of Directors and a fee of 125.00. I am so glad to checked this site again. Just saved us $250.00.
Wow what a bunch of bull. So glad I googled this letter and found this site. I just got my letter the other day and so thanks to everyone for taking the time to post these warnings. My letter looks pretty official and is headed as Disclosure Statement Board of Business Compliance Annual Minutes Division and of course they want my $125. so they can continue mailing out these annoying letters. My first indicator that this was a scam is that there are no phone #’s anywhere listed on this letter, and that my corporation number is wrong. I find it amazing that these people have not been shut down, destroyed, or been targeted for a terrorist attack yet. Well hope that this site helps people think twice in the future about sending anything but hate mail to these jokers. I also find it funny that all the other postings have a different PO Box address. They want my $$$ sent to PO Box 93069, Los Angeles, 90093. F-you. Well thanks again to everyone above for the help.
I recieved the letter asking for $125.00, and after I read commons here, I send the letter back with a “check” says Go Eat SHIT.
i recieved the letter asking for $125.00 seemed so fichy i decided to do some online research.Thanks to this blog i found my answer
SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
08/25/2008 Yep got one and its still $150 im happy i googled it. Thanks people.
I recieved this letter today and thought , “Not another bill”. And who the heck is Compliance Annual Minutes Board, anyway? I was going to call my attorney tomorrow but Thanks to Google and this site, I don’t have to. You saved me $150.00 hard earned dollars. THANK YOU !
too bad the personal info on the scammer behind this is not posted on the net along with their pictures, then when ever they are out in public they could be subject to humilation ( 0r worse)
I had my envoloppe check and letter ready to put in the mailbox when I did a quick search and found this blog.
from here found the following warning on the Texas Secratary of State website:
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/scc-solicitation-notice.shtml
This saved me $375.- (including the $50.- late fee hahaha!)
I was about to pay this invoice and I looked in our vendor list and noticed our company has never paid such a fee.
I went to the internet and did research and found the company to be a scam.
I got 2 today for $125 each for 2 different organizations that I am involved with. Never saw this bill before, so I googled it. Thanks, everyone!!!!
thanks for this website…i threw it in the trash. Looked very convincing. I did notice the real letter has no ‘.gov” website to renew the fees.
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Got this in the mail last Tues. hurried and got things ready. Wrote the check, sent it in on 9/11. Felt wierd and kind of sick so I called a business advisor. Found out it was a scam and today early this morning put a stop payment on check and will have to open a new account today. Oh, well, live and learn. Thank God we didn’t have to loose the money. He is watching over us! Praise the Lord.
I received two letters. Fuck these persons I paid the first one only since it looks official.
I list them here to remind you guys from more scams:
COMPLIANCE ANNUAL MINUTES BOARD BUSINESS PROCESSING DIVISION
P.O. BOX
6202 MURRIETA , CA 92564
1 866 390 1176 ( never get answered)
CORPORATE COMPLICANCE RECORDER
ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK DIVISION
P.O. BOX 66168
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90066
I got one two:
Board of Business Compliace
Annual Minutes Division
PO Box 93069
Los Angeles, CA 90093-0069
I am forwarding it to the LA police dept. in hope they can find out who the PO box belongs to and put them in Jail. I work hard for those $125 they are asking for.
I am happy i found the site, save me time trying to call an office. The letter did not have a Phone number, which made me google to search for the telephone.
Thanks everyone,
Elmer
Received a very official looking letter from “Annual Corporate Compliance” with a return address of 1971 Western Ave #1126, Albany, NY 12203. SCAM. Asked for $125.00. DO NOT PAY IT.
Received a very official looking letter from “Annual Corporate Compliance” with a return address of 1971 Western Ave #1126, Albany, NY 12203. SCAM. Asked for $125.00. DO NOT PAY IT.
We received the “Annual Corporate Compliance today with the return address of P.O. Box 96069 also. My boss had me google it to see if it was a scam and I came across this website. Thank you for being here. I made a folder for it so that in the future, we will know not to pay it. I also called the Small Business Liaison in Sacramento and left a message concerning this.
I RECEIVED A LETTER FOR $125.00 NOW DUE FOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT BOARD OF BUSINESS COMPLIANCE ANNUAL MINTUES DIVISION. THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR IN PUT, I NOW KNOW IT IS A SCAM. THANK YOU
I’ve been getting these for years…Thank God my wife is smarter than I am!
I just received another one and decided to look them up and got this web site. Didn’t know there were so many people with this problem. How can this be legal. I don’t think our forefathers ment this in the 1st amendment.
ASSHOLES…
i got three (3) different letters regarding this. Fortunatley for me i was in Alaska working and i didnt get the letter until september. one was for $125 another for $120 and the other was for $150. i decided to do some research about what is expected from me and this page was the first one i noticed. thank you for everyones input. it saved me possibly hundreds of dollars. The address that they wanted me to mail it to was Board of Business Comppliance P.O. box 93069 LA CA 90093-0069. another was Corporate Compliance Center, 2740 Fulton Ave., Suite 203 Sac. Ca 95821 916-480-9006. The final one was Corporate Business Bureau corporate division 8939 S. Sepulveda blvd., #110-727 LA CA 90045.
the last 2 are possibly UPS Store mail boxes. i recognize the suite address and the #110-727. its the same format as i use formy UPS Store mail box. i hope this info was helpful.
We received the same letter as all of you. They really put some effort to make it look “official”. The letter is for $125.00 payable to Board of Business Compliance and the return address is P.O. Box 93069 Los Angeles, CA 90093-0069. It looks fishy the fact that it doesn’t provide a phone number, so I decided to google it and found this awesome website.
Thanks to all of your input, we realized it was a SCAM.
You can also catch this on the letter – > it’s written in small fonts just above your signature. “39&3001 (D) THIS IS A SALUTATION ( and not solicitation = basically is saying – > “HELLO” please send us some $$$ ) FOR THE ORDER OF SERVICE. AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE OR STATEMENT DUE. NO OBLIGATION TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS; UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.
Spread the word to other businesses, friends, family so they don’t become a victim of this scam.
Thank you fellow internet users for posting this scam info! I too, just got a very official looking demand for $125 to PO Box 38130 LA 90038. Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy.
Another scam that happened to us- listed an apartment for rent on Craig’s List. 2 days later, the listing appeared again for $700 less per month. hmmmm and people had actually visited our unit, then replied to this fake advertiser cuz it was cheap. This other person was in , you guessed it, Africa, suddenly called home to do missionary work, “so please put a check in the mail.” Boy oh boy oh boy. And some people fell for it! We lost a few potential tenants, but then again, if they were that silly to fall for that ol’ scheme, it was probably for the best.
People, if it seems to good to be true, it is!!! thnx for letting me rant:)
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Received it and thanks to folks like you it only took a minute to realize it was a scam
Our business received 5 of these today – all with our address in Los Angeles, but 5 different company names (none of which are or have ever been at this location). Some of the business addressed to are actually in San Diego and some are out of state. Nice to see that a company with fraudulent practices is wasting their own money with inept mailings…
About Boom Global Media…..Emanuel Medeiros was arrested June 18. He is AKA Joe Garcia and is facing 20 years for fraud. If your company sent or was invoiced for $298. HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO GET BACK AT HIM!
Please contact U.S. Attorney’s Office…..Yusill Scribner, Rebekah Carmichael…Public Infomation Office……212-637-2600
USPIS…Allan K. Weissmann…….Public Infomation Office…..212-330-2270
This site is so appreciated. This is our first year as a corporation, so it did not get my attention right away, but thank goodness I hesitated…. Our letter is from Corporate Records Compliance Office, 125 Wolf Rd. Ste #306, Albany, NY 12205. It was asking for $120. What struck my attention as odd was the statement in all capital letters: THIS IS NOT A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT – under the return address of the envelope is was mailed in. THanks!
Ohh mannn thats a crazy.
I didn’t check the first time they sent it to me but i paid $150 to compliance annual minutes board, business devision PO box 6202, murrieta, ca 92564.
so now i got another one that wants me to pay 225 by a due date or it will increase to 275 pass the due date.
this is ridiculous. I was actually about to pay this one too. ughhh this is suck. i’m going to file a police report and call attorney general offices. I talked ot my bank and they said that i can’t file fraud through the bank because i actually did sign the check :(
WOW
BTW: for google purposes, the second mail was sent from State Bureau Of Corporations, Annual Minutes Filing,
PO BOX 163599, Sacramento, CA. And return envelope was to state bureau of corporations, 5431 Auburn blvd # 262 Sacramento CA 95841
Ours came from Indiana – Annual Corporate Compliance, Business Services Division, 10535 E. Washington St., #353, Indianapolis, IN 46229
It is the coolest site,keep so!
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HI FELLOW INCORPORATORS AND LLC’S,
Today I also received my official: “COMPLIANCE ANNUAL MINUTES BOARD”, but fortunately I did some checking and I found this on-line community. So in response to this letter I faxed a complaint along with a copy of the letter to the Murrieta City Hall at 951-698-9885 (FAX) and sent it directly to the attention of Mayor Rick Gibbs and Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Thomasian….ok a little overboard, but they should know what’s taking place in their city. God bless everyone.
Got two for a couple of businesses I am involved with. Title on mine was Department of Business Minutes saying I owed $125 each, due now.
Address they listed:
4470 W. Sunset Blvd, #380
Los Angeles, CA 90027
No phone numbers so I cant harrass them…
Maybe I should go down there and meet the person getting the mail and give them a beat down… They certainly got it coming!
State Bureau of Corporations – SCAM- SCAM -SCAM Annual Minutes Filing for California Corporations and LLCs – This line is so that anyone typing in this info will see the Scam Alert in a Google search.
Got the “official” letter stating the $225 fee ($195 fling fee plus the $30 administrative fee) must be paid by November 19, 2008. Filing No. 374-47-833-CA. Tiny letters stating this is not a gov’t org. The tip-off for me was that the biz is in another state and the mailing address only is in CA. No phone number, of course. Maybe that is the clue. No phone, no pay.
For search engines: State Bureau — Form and Filing fee. PO Box 163599. Sacramento SCAM ALERT.
I received this letter today,from Corporate Records Compliance Office – Wolf Road Albany – saying my business “superior paving corp.” needed to fill it out and send back w/$120. Funny thing is, I DON’T OWN A BUSINESS BY THAT NAME OR ANY OTHER NAME – THERE ARE NO BUSINESSES LOCATED AT MY HOME ADDRESS.
WHAT A SCAM
Hello~
I got one as well, very official looking with State Bureau of Corp’s on the top, and in small print near top indicating that it was not a gov. agency. Thanks for the other postings.
Tips for avoiding this type of scam (I have seen many come my way):
1. Seal- always look for the State Seal on any letterhead coming from any agency of CA’s communication regarding your business, seller’s permit, FEIN, etc. The seal on this letter looks OK until you read it- there is no indication it is from the state.
2. Phone Number- there was no phone number for this agency. this is Very rare and was the first sing something was wrong with the notice.
3. One good thing to do when you get anything like this is to google the address. if it is official, you will land on a CA.gov interior page.
4. Write you congressman! For all the money CA State has small businesses pay, they should be cracking down on this type of scam.
i got one in the mail and pay them thought it was for my corporate fee. anyone know how to file a claim on them.
Received one yesterday: Corporate Records Compliance Office Notice of Annual Minutes Compliance with a NY-2008 notation. Amount requested is $120. To be returned by 11/24/2008 to Corporate Records Compliance Office, 125 Wolf Rd. Ste #306, Albany NY 12205.
my husband received one two days ago ,from Corporate Records Compliance Office Notice of Annual Minutes Compliance . Amount requested is $120. To be returned by 11/24/2008 to Corporate Records Compliance Office, 125 Wolf Rd. Ste #306, Albany NY 12205.
what the fuck is going on !!!!!!!!!!!!How did they get our home Address,Bussiness name and the date our Business started. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME
It sure as hell looked official. If times aren’t tough enough, now we have to deal with these pricks. Thank God we have each other to cover our ass’s. Thanks
I am so glad I found this site. I got a similar form from the State Bureau of Corporations last month. I didn’t pay because I never received a bill before and wanted to make sure I actually had to pay the fee. At first I didn’t think it was a scam, just an error. The form looks quite official, but after looking it over I began to wonder. Glad I did some research!
Check this webside out. is also a scam
webeditor@internationalliving.com (how to collect an income from anyplace overseas) This is bases in the USA.
[...] (actually, it wasn’t). Instead, I Googled 1843 Central Avenue Albany 168 and came up with this post with the first word in the post – [...]
I received one today requesting $120 due 1/14//09
Corporate Records Compliance Office, 125 Wolf Road Ste #306, Albany, NY 12205
I just filed my biannual corporation report with a fee of $9, and never heard of annual minutes compliance before.
Thanks for the scam alert
I also received one yesterday from Corporate Records Compliance Office, 125 Wolf Road Ste #306, Albany, NY 12205.
It also requested $120 due 1/14/2009. In 2007, I got one from a different Albany address. Thanks largely to this website, I paid neither one.
Today, I filed a Mail Fraud Complaint with the United States Postal Inspection Service and included the URL for this website as testimony to the fact that for well over a year, hundreds of people in several states have been targeted by this scam.
Thanks for the alert.
Received one for $120 also. I wrote SCAM on it with a black marker and sent it back.
i would love to meet the person who came up with this for 5 minutes.
Scum bags man.
I got one from 10535 e. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46229
I received one today in California from “Corporate Business Bureau” for $150 annual fee for “2009 Annual Minutes of Shareholder & Directors Disclosure Statement.” It’s the same form that I accidentally paid from five years ago. Watch out for these people: they just change their name, but it’s the same old SCAM game.
Hi Bradley, I to got an offical looking document asking for $120.00 by a certain date
I was away and relized that I had not mailed it yet. So I cut my trip short and came home to mail it.
But just like you, I gave a quick call to my lawyer Paul, my luck is pretty much alway’s available.
As soon as I told him he said it is probably a scam, he also said he never heard of anything like this.
So then looked on the web and put the name of on top of the letter head and you poped up, which confirmed it for me.
I really want to thank you and everybody telling there story, to help others.
Annual Corporate Compliance
Sounded fishy – Looks official but they did include a disclaimer that it was not approved or endorsed by any government agency. That was my clue it was a scam.
Nothing seems to be easier than seeing someone whom you can help but not helping.
I suggest we start giving it a try. Give love to the ones that need it.
God will appreciate it.
January 26, 2009. I received the same letter today. However, I am an addicted “Googler”. I google everything. The line under the return address “Not a government letter” or something of the sort, raised the antenna — of course, I Googled Corporate Records Compliance Center + Scam and found these many complaints. Googling has saved me much trouble and funds. Advice: When it comes to paying out money, taking on new projects, due diligence is always a first step.
Sorry for all those who got scammed and thanks to those who have sounded the alarm of caution. God bless.
BNI is indeed a scam in my opinion, CAROL CHAMBERLAIN of the Mesa Success chapter took our hefty application fee then a few weeks later managed to initiate the onboarding of another business of the same type as us (Business Printing and Design) and when I responded with an inquiry as to how she could even do such a thing she ousted us and BNI refuses to refund any money to us saying we broke the rules! Beware of BNI and Carol Chamberlain and also Nathan Dominguez who is supposedly above Carol in BNI yet refused to even rectify the situation or even return our calls!
Emanuel Medeiros -who pled guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud last September – was sentenced today to forty-six months in a federal prison and ordered to pay $300,000 in forfeitures. Medeiros – also known as Joseph Garcia – allegedly sent thousands of companies all over the world fake invoices labeled renewal notices for non-existent internet advertising services. The invoices were sent out under the names Boom Global Media Inc. and Bradstreet International. Approximately 25,000 companies paid the fake invoices. The majority of the fake invoices were for $297.83. Any company who fell victim to the scam is encouraged to contact Victim Witness Coordinator Wendy Olsen –Clancy at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York by calling 1-(866) -874-8900.
Dear fellow business owners,
Sometimes there needs to be applied swift and brutal justice, I have the financial and most important staff and time available to go after these crooks, keep coming back for updates, I will hunt these bastard scam idiots down and promise justice will be severely and hurtfully applied…..
Wow, how are they still sending these out! I just got one too. Based on the first comment above they have been sending these out for OVER TWO YEARS! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE file a complaint with the BBB. I can’t imagine how many people have been completely scammed by these people.
WOW…THIS SAVED ME $425! I own 2 small business and I thought that I was late for paying in 2008 and owed for 2009 on just one business! I searched online for instructions to fil it out and stumbled upon this sight.
I sent back the letter and stated if they send me a Money Order Payable To “Cash” for $5,000 I will consider sending them $150 they were asking. This is contingent on their money order clearing the bank. Seems reasonable.
Our schollo foundation fund also received one of these letters. WHere is our Better Business Bureau?????
I received an invoice in INdiana, with an Indianapolis return address, still the mail orginated in California. Looks official too. What a bunch of ass_____s I hope they end up in jail !!!!
I just got one claiming to be mailed from Albany, NY but it was bulk mail with an indicia so hard to know where it was really from. They asked for $120.
Just received ours ….. Compliance Services 2002-A Guadalupe St. #216 Austin TX 78705-9996 $125
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I thank you all, just received a letter from CRCO official notice for annual minutes and immediately used my instincts to look them up and I found this site. The notice looks official since it’s address is also in Albany NY however, claims it’s not a bill, toward the end and it’s not affiliated with a government agency. These people are very clever in their wording which can easily fool anyone. Thank you for those who took action. I will also file a complaint with the Better Business and Attorney generals office.
Just received one in Texas. I got one last year and went straight to our lawyer. He said you will get more, its a scam. Yep here it is again, watch out!
Oops here is the info on these jerks!
Compliance Services 2002-A Guadalupe St. #216 Austin TX 78705-9996 $125
I received mine about a month ago, and had forgot to pay it. Luckily, I stumbled across this site before I wrote the check for $150. Mine had a return address of 10535 E. Washington St. #353 Indianapolis, IN 46229. I located the address and it is a Mail Boxes Etc (probably similar to the rest of them). The #353 is a personal box number used at that location. I called and talked to an employee, and he answered all of my questions in a very weird way “cannot confirm or deny” or “no comment”. It was very strange. I think the best action to take is make a complaint to the following website.
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
This would be consided mail fraud at the very least, which is a pretty hefty prison sentence. Good Luck to the rest of you and hopefully you were not jacked by these incensitive, worthless pieces of crap!!
I JUST RECEIVED THIS LETER FROM COMPLIANCE SERVICES AND DECIDED TO RESEARCH THEIR ADDRESS BEFORE I SEND ANY MONEY TO THEM. FIRST RED FLAG FOR ME WAS…NOT ENDORSED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, SECOND, NO PHONE NUMBER TO CALL AND FINALLY I COULD NOT GOOGLE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. NO, THE REAL FINAL WAS LOCATING THIS WEBSITE WITH THE SCAM FEEDBACK! KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SHIGGITY TO COME!
I received this l letter as well. Thankfully, I checked with my lawyer before sending them anything.
I have filed a complaint here: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/forms/cpd/form.php
and attached a PDF of the letter.
Anyone in Texas, please do so as well so we can get this stopped.
Received the same letter from a P.O. Box in Studio City, CA!
Looks like they’re using several different addresses around the nation.
Can’t believe this has been going on for over two years!!