Anyone else get burned by fake al ucc statement service scam companies?

Exactly! The collateral description on mine said 'general business assets and inventory' when the actual UCC-1 specifically listed manufacturing equipment with serial numbers. Should have been a red flag immediately.

These companies prey on people who don't know how to navigate the state filing systems directly. They make it seem so complicated when really you can pull most UCC records yourself from the SOS website.

What's the best way to verify filing numbers? I usually cross-check against the state database but sometimes the search interface is confusing with all the different filing types.

Most state systems let you search by filing number, debtor name, or secured party. I always recommend doing at least two different search methods to make sure you're getting complete results. Also check the filing dates - scam services often mess up basic chronology.

The pricing thing is so true. Paid $200 once for what turned out to be completely fabricated UCC-3 amendment records. Real service would have been maybe $50 max.

That sounds incredibly useful. Does it work with documents from different states or just specific ones?

Works across states from what I can tell. I've used it for filings from three different Secretary of State offices and it caught inconsistencies I would have missed doing manual checks.

Been looking for something like this. Manual document comparison is such a pain especially when you're dealing with multiple amendments and continuations on the same debtor.

How do you check business registration? Through the same Secretary of State office?

Yeah most states have business entity search databases where you can verify if a company is legitimately registered. Also check if they have proper licensing for providing legal research services.

Caught it about a week later when I was doing some follow-up research. Tried to pull one of the UCC-3 amendments they listed and the filing number didn't exist in the state system. That's when I started checking everything else and realized it was all fabricated.

omg that must have been terrifying. At least you caught it before finalizing anything with the client. I'm definitely going to be more careful about vetting these services.

This is why I always do a sanity check on any UCC search results I get from third parties. Even legitimate services sometimes miss filings or make transcription errors.

True but sometimes you need comprehensive searches across multiple states and that can be time consuming to do yourself. Just have to find reputable providers.

Fair point. Multi-state searches are definitely more complex. Just saying to be careful who you trust with that work.

That's almost worse because it's harder to catch. At least with obviously fake stuff you know something's wrong immediately.

Exactly. The subtle scams are more dangerous because they seem plausible. Always verify continuation dates independently - that's where a lot of these services mess up.

Continuation timing is so critical too. Miss that 6-month window and the whole security interest can become unperfected.

Good idea on the FTC complaint. Already disputed the charge with my bank and they reversed it pretty quickly once I showed the evidence.

State AG offices are usually pretty responsive to these kinds of scams because they affect local businesses. Worth filing even if you already got your money back.

Fast turnaround isn't necessarily a red flag if they have good systems, but definitely worth spot-checking a few of the filing numbers against the state database just to be safe.

If you want peace of mind, that Certana.ai tool I mentioned earlier would be perfect for this. Upload the documents they sent you and it'll flag any inconsistencies or suspicious elements automatically.

Thanks, I'll definitely look into that verification tool. Better safe than sorry when it comes to UCC accuracy.

Don't feel stupid - these scams are designed to look legitimate. The important thing is catching it before it causes bigger problems.

That's a smart approach. Any reputable UCC search service should be able to provide direct references to the actual state filings they're reporting on.

This is exactly the kind of guidance newcomers like me need! I'm just starting to handle UCC searches for my small practice and honestly didn't know what warning signs to look for. The generic email address tip is particularly helpful - I would have never thought to check that. Is there a resource or database where you can verify if a UCC search company is legitimate before using their services? I'd rather spend extra time vetting providers upfront than deal with the nightmare of fake documents later.