In plain view and sunlight, scammers are out in Florida

Preying Bird. Photo ET

In plain view and sunlight, scammers are out in Florida

This is what Florida businesses find in their mail, and it is going on for years. Does anyone care and investigate?

Even if this business is providing a service, the service is being offered under false pretense by making their forms confusing enough that they look like they must have come from the government.  They are designed to elicit a quick response from the business person, who doesn’t take the time to read, but senses an urgency to “Respond by” a certain date.  Therefore the target sends money that he or she wouldn’t if time was taken to read and understand what is being offered

BBB looked further into it. Here are their findings:

October 13, 2015

BBB Serving Northeast Florida & the Southeast Atlantic has been inundated with inquiries about a new misleading compliance solicitation scam targeting Florida small business owners. Businesses report receiving a letter that looks to be from a government agency stating that it is a final notice for failure to comply with 2015 labor law requirements.

After a quick investigation BBB has determined that this scam hoping to lure business owners into paying $114.00 to avoid a supposed $17,000 fine from the federal government. The letter is from an entity calling themselves FL Human Resources Compliance, a fictitious name registered to Gesher Enterprises LLC. Both entities are registered to addresses that are UPS Store PO boxes, there is no other contact information provided for FL Human Resources Compliance. The fine print on this final notice letter advises businesses to return the order form to order the required full set of state and federal notices.  

BBB received the following correspondence from a business owner regarding the solicitation she received: “My business is a new business and we have been receiving multiple requests for money from this business to purchase Labor Posters. However, the notice was developed in a way to imply that it is mandatory for us to purchase these posters from them or we could get fined or audited. I feel as if this is a scam to get us to pay them money, when in reality we can attain labor posters through the Department of Labor. I read about similar scams in other states. If they are a legitimate company and print these posters for a cost, they should not be able to try and force companies into buying their products by sending them official looking threatening letters. It is extremely unprofessional.”

Businesses are required by law to display labor law posters and BBB offers this advice for choosing a labor law poster service provider:

• Check with the Better Business Bureau to verify the seller's quality and service standards. Thoroughly investigate any business without a BBB rating, as this may indicate an unproven track record.
• Choose a partner that understands both state and federal laws. Florida businesses have to keep track of up to 11 federal and state postings issued by up to seven agencies.
• Confirm that the seller employs labor law attorneys to interpret regulatory changes.
• Ask for written assurance that the posters meet exact agency specifications for font size, poster size, color and layout.
• Choose a poster provider that guarantees unlimited protection from fines.

- See more at: http://www.bbb.org/north-east-florida/news-events/news-releases/2015/10/bbb-warning-florida-businesses-about-new-misleading-compliance-solicitation/#sthash.GnUU0dGP.dpuf

http://www.bbb.org/north-east-florida/news-events/news-releases/2015/10/bbb-warning-florida-businesses-about-new-misleading-compliance-solicitation/

But wait, there is more

Florida Compliance Scams - Numerous misleading solicitations have been circulating in the state, including a Florida Annual Minutes Solicitation and anAnnual Meeting of Shareholders and Directors solicitation, both sent from an entity called Compliance Services. In addition, a Florida Annual Minutes Requirement Form, is being sent by a company called Corporate Filing Services and one titled“2013 – annual Minutes Form” is being sent by a company called Corporate Records Service. A similar Annual Minutes Form solicitation is being sent by an entity called Business Filing Services and a company called Annual Business Services is also sending this type of solicitation. Several other scams are asking recipients to send in a "Certificate of Status Request form," including one being sent by an entity called United Certificate Services. View samples of these misleading solicitations from Center of Corporations and Florida State Compliance Center and an entity called F.C.F.S. Also, a Corporate Certificate of Status Reminder Notice is being sent by an entity called Florida Corporate Council. The Florida Division of Corporations has placed a notice on its Sunbiz website warning business about these scams.