Florida Company Impersonated PA State To Scam PA Businesses, Attorney General Said
by Alex Lloyd Gross
PA Corporate Certificates, LLC, could sound like it is a division of the PA department Of State. Attorney General Michelle Henry said that this Florida based company was contacting business owners that need a document called a Subsistence Certificate, which is a legitimate document that costs $40, but is not necessary for all businesses.
Henry said that PA Corporate Certificates would sell this for $102.50 and often send businesses correspondence that appeared to be from the Department Of State. Over 1000 businesses were scammed, Henry said.
“This out-of-state company preyed on new business owners by allegedly impersonating a government agency,” Attorney General Henry said. “Entrepreneurs and new businesses revitalize local economies and enhance communities, so the Office of Attorney General takes very seriously any and all attempts to exploit business owners.”
Anyone who received a letter from PA Corporate Certificates, should file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General online or by phone at 1-800-441-2555.
The Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit to stop this . The Pennsylvania Department of State, which has issued a warning that PA Corporate Certificates is a scam, and the Office of Attorney General, believe that numerous Pennsylvania business owners have fallen victim to this scam.
Some businesses received certificates; some did not.
The lawsuit asks the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas for: an injunction to stop the Defendants from operating their scam in Pennsylvania, full refunds for every Pennsylvania business owner who purchased a certificate, and civil penalties of up to $1,000, per violation of the law.
The suit is filed against PA Corporate Certificates, LLC, and its owners – Brian Capobiano, Dean Marshlack, and David Marshlack.