BBB is getting calls from our Accredited Businesses we well as area consumers reporting a new fraud crime in the area: Scammers are sending emails claiming to be from the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) – one of the very agencies charged with preventing financial fraud. These emails masquerade as the “U.S. Business Compliance Commission,” and implore you to fill out a BOI Report (Beneficial Ownership Information Report) to avoid financial penalties. A false phone number is given, as well as a fake link, not ending in “.gov,” but “.net” (.gov websites belong to official government organizations in the United States).
When the fraudsters reach you, they request cash payments. Some are reporting requests for $117. Some are pressured, and then advised that non-compliant businesses will face fines of $500 per day, with a maximum penalty of $10,000. NOTE: there is NO FEE to file BOI directly with FinCEN and FinCEN does NOT send correspondence requesting payment for BOI Reports.
Some businesses are required to file information with FinCEN but many are not. FinCEN itself can answer questions about which businesses are required to file, and has a warning on its website, advising all to beware of deceptive emails. See www.fincen.gov/boi.
BBB advises business owners to be vigilant when plowing through their daily deluge of emails (!). It is imperative not to respond to deceptive notices by calling fake numbers or clicking on fraudulent links.
If your business has received these fake emails, they can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at http://ftc.gov/complaint.
Better Business Bureau® and Better Business Bureau Ethics Foundation, Inc.
7668 King’s Pointe Rd., Toledo, OH 43617
Tel: 419-578-6000
Mobile: 419-467-3819