The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, also known as FinCEN, recently issued an alert warning individuals and businesses that scammers are using the Corporate Transparency Act to fraudulently solicit information from individuals and businesses who may be subject to reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act.
These fraudulent scams may include:
- Correspondence requesting payment.
- There is NO fee to file BOI directly with FinCEN. FinCEN does NOT send correspondence requesting payment to file BOI. Do not send money in response to any mailing that claims to be from FinCEN or another government agency.
- Correspondence that asks the recipient to click on a URL or to scan a QR code.
- Those e-mails or letters are fraudulent. Do not click any suspicious links or attachments or scan any QR codes in emails, on websites, or in any unsolicited mailings.
- Correspondence that references a “Form 4022,” or an “Important Compliance Notice.”
- This correspondence is fraudulent. FinCEN does not have a “Form 4022.” Do not send BOI to anyone by completing these forms.
- Correspondence or other documents referencing a “US Business Regulations Dept.”
- This correspondence is fraudulent; there is no government entity by this name.
FinCEN warns not to respond to these fraudulent messages, click on any links, or scan any QR codes within them.
You can read the alert here.