Corporations WARNING: Deceptive Solicitations and Scams This Division of Corporations, Business & Professional Licensing (CBPL) cautions you to be aware of scams or deceptive solicitations requesting money and/or information from businesses. Be especially cautious during your normal business or renewal cycles to the State of Alaska (such as Biennial Reports and License Renewals), when there may be an increase in scams and deceptive solicitations. If reports or license renewals are due for your business, in general, you should only file applications, reports, or renewals directly through an official ".Gov" website, such as: www.Corporations.Alaska.Gov www.ProfessionalLicense.Alaska.Gov www.BusinessLicense.Alaska.Gov For additional information, go to the Department of Law - Consumer Protection Unit's website: Frauds & Scams How will you know if it's official? Any offical State correspondence, statement, website, or request from the Division of Corportations, Business and Professional Licensing (CBPL) will show State of Alaska origin by displaying the Official Alaska State Seal and the Governor's name in the document header. Official websites and staff e-mail addresses will include "Alaska.Gov." Be careful of "lookalike" websites or e-mail addresses. For example: "akk.gov" or "ak-gov.org" or "alaska-ak.gov" or "corporations.AK.net" or any other combination. Examples of official State of Alaska seals: Example of official logo for the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development(DCCED): Misquoting or misrepresenting Alaska Statutes & Regulations Scams and deceptive solicitations may misquote or misrepresent Alaska Statutes and Regulations to request both money and information from businesses. These are usually phrased with "high urgency" or "high pressure" messaging. Always check your registrations or licensing status through official "Alaska.Gov" websites and be familiar with your required filings under current statutes/regulations here: Corporations Section: www.Corporations.Alaska.Gov Professional Licensing Section: www.ProfessionalLicense.Alaska.Gov Business Licensing Section: www.BusinessLicense.Alaska.Gov What types of scams and deceptive solicitations should you be aware of? There are many types of scams and variations of scams or deceptive solicitations, and tactics are always changing and becoming more sophisticated. However, these are the most common examples that businesses should be aware of: Mailed requests for information and payment that are not of State of Alaska origin. E-mailed requests for information and payment that are not of State of Alaska origin. Text messages urging you to file certain paperwork and/or complete payment online. CBPL does not send requests to file paperwork or collect payment via text message. Phone calls claiming to represent staff, such as the Professional Licensing Investigations Unit, and may falsely claim that there is criminal activity associated with your license or registration. Text messages notifying you to file for a Federal EIN (tax ID) through a non-government website. Tax IDs are federally issued by the IRS through www.IRS.Gov If you’re unsure whether a mailing, e-mail, text message, or phone call is legitimate, please reach out to the appropriate contact under the “Contact Us” section below. What should you do if you receive a potential scam/deceptive solicitation? File a report with the Alaska Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit. You can also call 907-269-5200 (Anchorage), or, if outside of Anchorage, call toll-free 1-888-576-2529. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). I paid a fee to a non-government company, and I think it may be a scam. What can I do? Contact your bank as soon as possible to determine if you can cancel or dispute a payment. For Elderly Fraud Assistance (60 years old or older), go to the Department of Administration website: Office of Public Advocacy File a report with the Alaska Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit. You can also call 907-269-5200 (Anchorage), or, if outside of Anchorage, call toll-free 1-888-576-2529. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This Division does not provide legal advice. The information contained within these webpages is provided for your convenience and is not to be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to know what your registering, reporting, and filing requirements are based on your specific business activities. Not knowing what is expected of you may not preclude you from the legal obligation to meet these requirements and compliance with the law. You are encouraged to seek the advice of a professional, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Attorney, if you need additional assistance. Contact Us When contacting this office, please direct your questions to the appropriate Section: Corporations, Professional Licensing, or Business Licensing. Each Section specializes in its own requirements per Alaska statutes and regulations. Corporations Section Email: Corporations@Alaska.Gov Professional Licensing Section Email: License@Alaska.Gov Business Licensing Section Email: BusinessLicense@Alaska.Gov