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HELENA, Mont. — Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen has issued a cease-and-desist letter to an out-of-state group targeting Montana businesses with a fraudulent, official-looking solicitation designed to take money from hardworking Montana businesses.
These out-of-state swindlers targeted Montana businesses with a mailing titled “Form 5102 Mandatory Beneficial Ownership Reporting” from Annual Filing Report Service LLC.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has explicitly warned that any correspondence referencing “Form 5102” is fraudulent. The federal government also confirmed that the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has no form by that number.
“When an out-of-state organization invents a fake form, flashes fake penalties, and tries to bully Montana businesses into writing a big check, that’s not compliance, that is fraud. My message to these crooks is simple: Montana is open for business — not open for scams,” said Secretary Jacobsen.
“I will aggressively defend Montana businesses against out-of-state entities looking to line their pockets by deceiving our hardworking employers,” Secretary Jacobsen added.
Secretary Jacobsen’s action is part of her ongoing effort to combat business fraud, hold bad actors accountable, and protect hardworking Montanans from deceptive scams and exploitation.
Montana business owners are encouraged to ignore suspicious mailings demanding large payment for filings, certificates, or compliance documents, and to closely review disclaimers or fine print showing the mailing is only a solicitation or advertisement.