Fraudulent Mailings Target Louisiana LLC Owners, State Warns

Louisiana small-business owners are the latest targets of a wave of official-looking but fraudulent mailings demanding payment for compliance documents, state officials said this week.

The mailings—often branded under names such as the “U.S. Business Regulations Dept.”—warn recipients that they must immediately pay fees to file or renew a “Certificate of Existence” to remain in good standing. While the letters resemble legitimate correspondence from the Louisiana Secretary of State, they are not affiliated with any state agency.

“They’re deliberately designed to look official and to scare people into writing a check,” said Secretary of State Nancy Landry. “The state does not send third-party mailings like this, and no one should feel pressured to pay these fees.”

Louisiana isn’t alone. States nationwide have reported similar scams exploiting business owners’ fear of falling out of compliance. Many of these mailers pull information directly from publicly available records, which include LLC owner names and mailing addresses.

The Secretary of State’s office notes that Louisiana LLCs can obtain a certificate of existence online for a nominal fee—currently $20—directly through the state’s official website, without going through third-party companies. The fraudulent letters, by contrast, have requested payments of $80 or more.

The scam underscores a broader vulnerability: small-business owners often face a dizzying array of compliance requirements, from annual reports to new federal beneficial ownership disclosures. Scammers capitalize on this complexity to create a sense of urgency and legitimacy.

Consumer protection officials recommend that business owners:

• Verify any compliance notice directly through official state channels.

• Report suspicious mailings to local law enforcement and the Louisiana Attorney General’s office.

• Never send payment to companies that can’t be verified as government agencies or registered service providers.

• 
  

“Compliance scams are a perennial threat,” said Liz Swaine, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority in Shreveport, who has fielded calls from local business owners concerned about the letters. “The safest move is to ignore them and check your status online.”

The Federal Trade Commission has logged thousands of complaints involving similar schemes in recent years, most targeting small businesses with limited administrative support. While no arrests have yet been announced in connection with the Louisiana scam, authorities say investigations are ongoing.