Fake UCC statement request form scam - how to spot legitimate filings?

Exactly this. I've seen the fee schedules vary by state but they're always way less than what these scammers charge. Some states even offer free UCC searches online now.

The unsolicited part is the biggest giveaway. Why would the state randomly mail you about your own filings? Makes no sense when you think about it logically.

They must be pulling business names from public records somehow. That's probably how they know which companies to target with these fake UCC requests.

The sophisticated look is what gets people. They spend time making it look official instead of those obvious Nigerian prince emails we're used to.

Your accountant saved you $89 plus whatever headaches come with giving scammers your info. Smart move checking first.

That sounds way better than dealing with potentially fake forms. How accurate is the automated checking compared to manual review?

I tried this recently - it caught a debtor name mismatch between my UCC-1 and UCC-3 that I completely missed. Really thorough verification process.

That's a good point about the timing. They probably monitor filing dates somehow and send these fake requests when businesses are in 'paperwork mode.

Makes sense. If you just filed a UCC-1 or did a continuation, getting another form seems normal instead of suspicious.

The psychological aspect is smart but evil. They know business owners are busy and might just pay to make paperwork go away.

Same here. It's created this environment where we have to verify everything twice. Adds unnecessary complexity to already complicated filing procedures.

At least it makes us more vigilant about our UCC filings in general. Silver lining maybe?

This is the golden rule. Never use contact info from questionable documents. Always look up official numbers independently.

I keep the SOS office number saved in my phone now specifically for these situations. Has saved me from questionable requests multiple times.

Good advice. The SOS staff are usually pretty helpful about explaining what legitimate requests look like versus scam attempts.

That's terrifying that they can access enough public information to make the scams look that authentic. No wonder people fall for them.

The fact they use real filing numbers is what would probably fool me. That level of detail makes it seem official.

Smart approach. Having your own verified records makes it easier to spot when something doesn't match up with what scammers are claiming.

Does it work with different filing types? I have UCC-1s, continuations, and a termination that I need to keep track of.

Yes, it handles all the standard UCC forms. Really helpful for making sure everything aligns properly across multiple filings.

Agreed. I always check the state's official fee schedule before paying anything UCC-related. It's usually posted right on their website.

The markup is how they make money while still providing some kind of service. They might actually do the search but charge 3-4x the normal rate.

Good idea. The more reports they get, the more likely they are to investigate and maybe catch these scammers.

You should also consider posting about it on local business forums. Other business owners in your area might be getting the same fake forms.

Definitely report it. These scams hurt legitimate businesses and make the whole UCC system seem sketchy when it's actually pretty straightforward.

That's a great point. Real UCC activity happens for specific business reasons, not just random administrative requests.

Right, if you haven't applied for financing or done any secured transactions recently, why would anyone be requesting UCC information? The context matters.