Secretary of State again warns businesses about scam

JACKSON, Miss. (WTOK) - The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office says it continues to receive reports from businesses about a company, MS Certificate Service, soliciting ‘certificates of existence'.

According to customers, the company is soliciting misleading ’2020 Certificate of Existence Request Forms’ to businesses, particularly new businesses, throughout Mississippi.

Secretary of State Michael Watson says his office issued a notice about the MS Certificate Service scam in February, warning the business community of deceptive letters requesting a $90.50 fee to order certain business documents from the Secretary of State’s Office. So far Watson says the scammers have taken more than $175,000 from Mississippi businesses for the bogus certificates.

Registered businesses in Mississippi do not have to respond or send payment to the third party, MS Certificate Service. Watson says his office will continue to work closely with the Attorney General’s Office to protect Mississippi businesses from this deceitful practice.

The solicitation below is *NOT* sent or authorized by the Mississippi Secretary of State.