NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – Secretary of State Tre Hargett warned Tennessee business owners Friday of a scam that has recently resurfaced and is targeting businesses.
Secretary Hargett said in his statement the way the scam is targeting businesses is with a deceptive mailer from a company that goes by two names: Tennessee Certificate Service and TN Certificate of Existence Filing Company.
“Our Division of Business and Charitable Organizations and I personally have heard of multiple complaints from business owners across Tennessee about these misleading mailers. We have seen scams like this before, with similar deceptive language that implies that businesses must have a Certificate of Existence to complete its formation or to fully operate in the state,” said Secretary Hargett said in his statement. “This is not the case. Unfortunately, businesses who order a Certificate of Existence through these scammers may be paying an exorbitant amount for something that is totally unnecessary or would only cost $20 through our office.”
The fake mailer titled “2022 Certificate of Existence Request,” has been sent to businesses across the state. The mailer insists that all Tennessee businesses are required to pay a fee of either $83 or 175.50 for this third-party company to step in and complete the Certificate of Existence paperwork on the…
