Scams target Washington business owners with false official notices | News [Video]

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has issued a warning about fraudulent communications targeting business and non-profit owners in the state.

These scams often claim to be official notices from the Office of the Secretary of State’s (OSOS) Corporations and Charities Division, and typically involve false claims about business registration, verification, annual filings, or delinquencies. In many cases, scammers solicit payment amounts that exceed the state’s official fee schedule.

According to the OSOS, phone solicitations have specifically targeted Latino business owners, threatening fines and jail unless a $200 payment is made immediately.

Hobbs emphasized that business owners should be aware of these malicious attempts and file an online complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.

“Washington businesses are a foundational aspect of our state and critical to our economy’s health,” said Secretary Hobbs. “Business owners deserve to feel protected and equipped with information to deny malicious attempts on their franchise.”

The OSOS said fraudulent solicitations have evolved …