Scam Letters Targeting Businesses Who Don't Bother To Look Closely

BOSTON (CBS) - Scammers across the country are targeting businesses with a simple letter in the mail. In some cases, people are falling for it.

"It's typically labeled something like notice of potential compliance violation or certificate of good standing request form," Paula Fleming, vice president of the Boston Better Business Bureau told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

"It looks like a document from the state or a government agency."

And of course, the recipient is expected pay up.

"And send it back with $125," Fleming said.

Which, surprisingly, is exactly what many businesses do.

"It looks like a legitimate document, they don't feel like it's an astronomical amount of money so, they're just paying it off and then, kind of, doing their due diligence afterwards," said Fleming.

So how can this happen?

"Businesses are eager to adhere to government regulations and if there's a small fee associated with it, oftentimes they will just write the check out rather than doing their due diligence," she said.

Be aware - what the scammers want really doesn't exist.

"There's no corporate records filing form or good standing certificate. There's no such thing," said Fleming.

So if you're opening the mail at your office, take a closer look.

"Don't believe what you see, the official seal and the fonts and the invoices," she said.

The best advice, according to Fleming - search online.

"You can search simply these terms that are on the actual bill, the scam bill, if you will, and it will come right up that it is a scam," she said.

You can also search the better business bureau website, bbb.org/scamtracker.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jeff Brown reports