Washington business owners should be on their guard for scams that demand they pay to register “corporate minutes” or other internal corporate paperwork with the state, the Office of Secretary of State’s Corporations Division warned today.

The Corporations Division’s warning is prompted by Texas Attorney General Greg Abott announcing this week in Harris County Court that a fake company called Medical Data Compliance had been scamming Texas businesses by sending “official-looking” forms demanding money to register corporate “minutes” in Texas. The letters included the incorporation date of the targeted company, to mislead owners into believing the documents were from the state of Texas.

Washington Corporations Director Pam Floyd said the scam in Texas is a good reminder to Washington businesses to be on the lookout for fraudulent attempts like these.

“The Secretary of State’s Office does not require corporations to file their minutes with the Corporations Division,” said Floyd. “Anyone who demands you register meeting minutes with us is not a representative of our office.”

In order to be in compliance with state law, corporations need to file articles of incorporation  with the Secretary of State’s Office. Annual renewals are also required.

For more information about the requirements for being a corporation in Washington, or to register conveniently online, go to www.secstate.wa.gov/corps . Businesses wishing to renew online may visit http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/renew.html .