GA Certificate Service

Victim Location 30022

Total money lost $73

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I just started a home based business. I filed with the State, City and Internal Revenue Service. I received several items in the mail including a letter from GA Certificate Service stating that I had one more step to complete my Georgia Certificate of Existence. They asked for $72.50. Unfortunately, I did not check the internet first to see if it was a scam. Everything appeared legitimate. Unfortunately, it was a scam.

Victim Location 30052

Total money lost $72.50

Type of a scam Government Agency Imposter

I fell victim of this scam because when I saw the GA Certificate Service, I just automatically assumed it was the Government and mail actually said respond by August 4th. In my mind, I thought if i didn’t respond by the said date I will loose my incorporation. I don’t know why I felt something wasn’t right, so I mentioned it to my uncle who is CPA so he asked me to snap it, it was then I knew this is all a scam.

Victim Location 30316

Total money lost $72.50

Type of a scam Government Agency Imposter

Received the letter in the mail and paid the $72.50 it asked for thinking it was for the LLC I acquired recently.

Victim Location 30066

Type of a scam Government Agency Imposter

I got a letter in the mail telling me to pay $72.50 for my Georgia Certificate of Existence. I was not made aware that this was something I would have to pay for separately when I paid the fees to form my corporation and there is a line in small print that says this is not a government agency. Then the form wants my name, pone number and email address but all of this is one the original paperwork I filed. That’s when I started looking to see if there is some fraud going on. It’s very frustrating that you have to question every single thing before doing anything because someone people decide it’s ok to steal someone’s hard earned money and continue to scam people. If I had sent these people money I would be out money and my personal information would be sold on the dark web to perpetuate more crime. This is absolutely sickening.

Victim Location 31792

Total money lost $72.50

Type of a scam Phishing

We received a letter telling us that our business was going to be considered non-compliant if we did not purchase a certificate of existence through this service.

Victim Location 30127

Type of a scam Government Agency Imposter

Sent an official looking document stating that my newly formed business needed to finish filing my articles with the secretary of state and pay $72.50 to obtain our elective Georgia Certificate of Existence.

Victim Location 30022

Type of a scam Government Agency Imposter

i was registering LLC for a business, and got a postal mail asking to pay $72.50 for Georgia Certificate of Existence.

Victim Location 31419

Type of a scam Phishing

This service pretends to be providing something that is easily attainable on your own, for $10. They make you think from the language and the form that this required and part of the process of starting a business. Do not be fooled, they do not offer a special service other than taking your money.

Victim Location 30528

Type of a scam Government Agency Imposter

DO NOT FALL FOR IT!!!!

You can go to the GA secretary of state website, search your business name, and download the form FOR FREE.

These lying Sacojoweia want you to pay $72.50 for something you can get for $0.00. If your printer is dead, there are TONS of companies that will print and mail it to you for $10.

The print "This is not a government agency" is too small to read without a magnifying glass and hidden 2/3 down the page.

They give you a short response time to cause you to just write a check. DO NOT MAIL THEM ANYTHING!

These [censored] are just pulling newly registered names and bulk mailing them letters that appear to be from the State so they can make nearly a Cnote a pop. They now have your personal information and your business information due to sloppy practice at the GA State offices.

Victim Location 31324

Total money lost $72.50

Type of a scam Government Agency Imposter

The letter is received within a week of the date of registration for our LLC. There is a quick turnaround request in large bold font, indicating it needs to be handled quickly. Look carefully for one word that apparently gets them out of legal trouble – "elective". It is listed once in the document.

Victim Location 31210

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I received a solicitation for a Georgia certificate of existence for $72.50. Something didn’t seem right, so I checked with a team member. It’s a scam. Thankfully, I caught it. Who do we report this scam to?

Victim Location 31807

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I received this in the mail today after having my LLC set up with my state. (see attachment) It seemed like a scam to pay the $72.50 so I went and looked online to see if it was legit or not. Sure enough…it’s a scam. I can order a Certificate of Existence for $10 via the GA Sec of State website.

Victim Location 30354

Total money lost $72.50

Type of a scam Phishing

They are targeting new GA biz owners and asking for $72.50 to pay for Certificate of Existence.

Secretary of State said it’s fraud and to cancel the check.

Victim Location 30328

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Textbook definition of a scam.

This scam offers the Certificate of Existence that can be purchased directly from the Georgia’s Secretary of State’s Office for $10. First, this is NOT needed unless a business requires a physical copy proving their existence. This scam charges $72.50 to order this Certificate of Existence through them and offer additional options for "expedited shipping."

DANGEROUS: Do not share personal information to them or pay $62.50 extra for a fake service.

Victim Location 30040

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

Received a very “government request” type letter leading the registrant of a new domestic liability to believe that there are more steps remaining towards company registration and asking to remit fees to obtain a “Certificate of Existence”. If one does not read very carefully, the postal mail letter appears to be a government request to remit more money in connection to forming a company.

Victim Location 30263

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

The company is mailing invoices for a "Certificate of Existence" that "may be required for loans, to renew business licenses, or for tax or other business purposes." They are charging $72.50 for something that is provided by the Secretary of State for just $10.

Victim Location 30314

Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill

I recieved an invoice in the mail from GA Certificate Service; a company posing as a legal extension of the Georgia Secretary of State. The request is for $72.50 for a Certificate of Existence, but I have already paid the Secretary of State $10 for a letter of Existence. I called the Georgia Secretary of State office and they said that they don’t know anything about this company. I called the number on the invoice 888-842-9265 and it goes straight to voicemail. I then looked up their address on Google maps and it is the address for a UPS store. Please, have this scam shut down before they collect more money from people who don’t know any better than to pay them. Attached is a copy of the letter that I received in the mail on yesterday, April 8, 2019.