State officials warn against scam targeting Maine corporations, nonprofits

PORTLAND (WGME) – A scam is targeting Maine corporations and nonprofits.

The Secretary of State’s Office says fraudsters are trying to mislead them about filing annual reports.

This scam seems to circulate every year, but it’s back again in full force, and it could end up costing businesses and nonprofits hundreds of dollars.

Here’s how it works:

Usually, you’ll get a misleading letter in the mail that may look like it’s from the state, claiming they’ll help file an annual report on your behalf for a $210 fee.

The scammers use publicly available information about the corporation or nonprofit to make the pitch sound more legitimate, but it’s actually a scam.

According to the state, the division of corporations never mails out annual report forms.

It’s only available online.

And actual cost to file is much lower: $85 for domestic businesses and $35 for nonprofits.

The Secretary of State released a statement to the CBS13 I-Team Thursday.

“Scammers are really skilled at what they do, and when you see a scam like this one persist, it unfortunately is a sign that they are having success.”

If you get an unsolicited letter like this, the best thing to do is stop and verify.

When in doubt, reach out to the state directly to make sure you know what’s actually required.