How to Spot a Misleading Solicitation
Some business practices may be fraudulent or even misleading to the public. The Secretary of State’s Office helps to protect North Carolina citizens and businesses by posting these schemes on the website.
Some business practices may be fraudulent or even misleading to the public. The Secretary of State’s Office helps to protect North Carolina citizens and businesses by posting these schemes on the website.
Some business practices may be fraudulent or even misleading to the public. The Secretary of State’s Office helps to protect North Carolina citizens and businesses by posting these schemes on the website.
Always read the fine print! Most disclaimers will be seen at the bottom of the form or in very small print in the center. By law, the solicitation must include variations of the following:
The soliciting company:
- is not a government agency and does not represent a government agency
- is not a government agency and does not have a contract with any government agency to provide this service
- is not a government agency and is not affiliated with the Secretary of State or any other government agency
- does not officially represent the State or any other government entity
- is a third-party service provider
- is a private entity
The solicitation may also indicate that:
- you are not obligated to use this service to fulfill state requirements
- you may file directly with the Secretary of State’s Office
If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the notice, please review your company’s records at the NC Secretary of State’s Office at www.sosnc.gov to determine if an annual report is required and, if needed, file directly with the NC Secretary of State’s Office for a much lower fee.