Contents
- Who Is CPS, And Why Do They Charge $120 To File A Statement Of Information?
- Who Does CPS Target?
- Companies And Addresses To Be Aware Of
- How Does CPS Get Away With This, And What Is Being Done To Protect Business Owners?
- It’s Easy To File Your California Statement Of Information Yourself
- When To File Your Statement Of Information & Current Fees
- Tips To Avoid Getting Scammed
- Why I Wrote About CPS
- Keep Up To Date With The Secretary Of State
- About The Artwork On This Page
CPS & The Statement Of Information Letter
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CPS last fall. About to chuck it into a pile of unwanted mail, I saw that it looked like an official government document, so I nervously tore it open.
It read in bold letters:
2020 – STATEMENT OF INFORMATION – INSTRUCTION FORM (California LLCs)
The notice was pre-populated with my company’s Secretary of State entity number and formation date, LLC managers’ names, and our business address.
CPS Statement of Information Letter
The letter started with a warning about a late fee:
California laws require every limited liability company authorized to transact business in the state to timely file a statement of information every other year. If SEPTEMBER PEOPLE, LLC does not timely file a statement of information, a $250 late fee may apply.
I didn’t think that I was late with my filing, but the possibility of being slapped with a $250 fine was alarming.
The letter continued with a section of the California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act:
“California Corporations Code § 17702.09: (A) Every limited liability company and every foreign limited liability company registered to transact intrastate business in this state shall deliver to the Secretary of State for filing within 90 days after the filing of its original articles of organization or registering to transact intrastate business and biennially thereafter during the applicable filing period, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, a statement of information…”
Now for the pitch:
If the business entity is still in use, CPS will assist in the filing of your statement of information.
Mail in the completed form with $120.00 in the enclosed envelope. Please respond today!
$120 seemed rather steep. I was pretty sure I didn’t pay that much to file my Statement of Information in the past.
Reviewing my records, I saw that my Statement of Info was not due for another seven months. The last time I filed, I did so directly through the Secretary of State website. The filing fee was $20, not $120.
Beyond the $20 filing fee, the Secretary of State gave me the option of paying $1 to have a hard copy mailed to me. For an additional $5, I could choose to have the hard copy certified (stamped, signed, and dated on the back).
And for the best deal of all: if I wanted a PDF copy of my Statement of Info, the Secretary of State would email it to me for free.
There was something fishy about CPS and their $120 fee to file my Statement of Information.
Contents
- Who Is CPS, And Why Do They Charge $120 To File A Statement Of Information?
- Who Does CPS Target?
- Companies And Addresses To Be Aware Of
- How Does CPS Get Away With This, And What Is Being Done To Protect Business Owners?
- It’s Easy To File Your California Statement Of Information Yourself
- When To File Your Statement Of Information & Current Fees
- Tips To Avoid Getting Scammed
- Why I Wrote About CPS
- Keep Up To Date With The Secretary Of State
- About The Artwork On This Page
Who Is CPS, And Why Do They Charge $120 To File A Statement Of Information?
Curious to find out who was behind this, I called the number provided in the mailing: (916) 244-3826. CPS also had a toll-free line, but I decided to try the one with the “916” Sacramento area code.
The woman who answered said that CPS is a private company that takes care of Statement of Information filings for people who don’t have access to a computer.
Please note that it is possible to file your California Statement of Info without internet access or a computer, as you can easily request a hard copy form from the Secretary of State. I’ll get to that below.
She also said that using CPS is cheaper than an accountant or attorney.
I’m not sure how much they typically charge to file a Statement of Information, but you don’t need to hire an accountant or attorney to complete this simple task. I’ll explain below how easy it is for a small business to file on their own.
I asked the woman how CPS obtained my business info. She said that it is public information.
Unfortunately, this is true.
Business data is readily available for anyone – legit or otherwise – to access through the Secretary of State website. Companies can easily mine data from the site, then solicit unsuspecting businesses, hoping to mislead them into paying dubious fees for their services.
CPS’s $120 charge includes a “state fee” ($20) and CPS’s “processing fee” ($100). This is a 600% markup for a chore that you can take care of yourself.
I had more questions to ask, but the woman sounded annoyed, so I thanked her and hung up.
Not ready to give up, I searched for CPS on the California Secretary of State website. There were 55 LLCs and 119 corporations with names containing the letters “CPS.” None appeared to be the company that sent me a Statement of Info letter.
I called again a few days later, and a different woman answered. I asked about their services, and she explained that CPS solely files Statements of Information and send notices to LLCs every two years.
I asked her for their location. “Our call center is in Michigan,” she replied.
“So, are you based in Michigan?” I asked. She refused to say where they were based and repeated that their call center is in Michigan.
What’s your physical address? “We don’t have a physical address. Everything is done by mail.”
Do you have a website? “No, we don’t have a website.”
How long have you been in business? “Two years.”
At this point, she said she wouldn’t answer any more questions, but I quickly asked before she hung up, “What does CPS stand for?”
“CPS doesn’t stand for anything. It’s just letters.”
Who Does CPS Target?
Does CPS target small, independent businesses only, or do they blindly blast any LLC they find on the SOS website? My company is a small one that does web development, graphic design, and branding. I take care of all of our administrative tasks.
If I’d had no prior experience filing Statements of Info, I might have signed CPS’s form and mailed them a check without thinking twice. If I had been in a rush, I could have mistaken them for a legit government agency. I believe their mailing can easily fool anyone.
Curious to see what others had to say about CPS, I poked around online and found that many business owners across the US have received solicitations from CPS. A lot of them left unhappy reviews on Yelp.
CPS’s Yelp page
As of April 2021, 76 individuals from California, Minnesota, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Hawaii have reviewed CPS. 52 reviews were active, and 24 were hidden or “not currently recommended” by Yelp. Each person submitted a one-star rating with complaints about being solicited by CPS to file a Statement of Information or similar business document.
Companies And Addresses To Be Aware Of
On the Better Business Bureau website, I discovered several companies that appear to be related to CPS:
- CPS Filing Services
- LLPS
- Workplace Compliance Services
- ANS Inc.
- Mandatory Poster Agency
- State-Name-Here Labor Law Poster Service (there are 50 of these businesses, and they apparently use mail-solicitation tactics similar to CPS to hawk overpriced labor law posters)
- State-Name-Here Council for Corporations (there are 6 of these)
The URLs above link to Better Business Bureau pages. The Workplace Compliance Service BBB page is particularly interesting because it contains alerts from the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Business Registration Division (BREG) and the Oregon Secretary of State.
Also, take note of the business management and contact info on these BBB pages. They appear to be a group of people who share a last name.
Finally, I noticed that the addresses associated with these businesses are rented UPS store mailboxes in capital cities, so they can be easily mistaken for government agencies.
The return address for the letter I received from CPS is a UPS store mailbox in Sacramento, the state capital of California:
1026 Florin Road #312
Sacramento CA 95831
How Does CPS Get Away With This, And What Is Being Done To Protect Business Owners?
In California, Assembly Bill 75 requires the following disclaimer on misleading solicitations:
THIS PRODUCT OR SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR ENDORSED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, AND THIS OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE BY AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Although it’s required to be set in 12-point, bold capital letters, the disclaimer can be easily overlooked on a cluttered page.
Envelopes are required to display the following statement to keep within legal limits:
THIS IS NOT A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT
CPS’s Statement of Information envelope
It’s easy to miss since the text blends in with the postage mark above it.
Something to note about the postage mark: the letter originates from Anaheim, CA (zip code 92807), even though CPS’s mailing address is about 400 miles away in Sacramento.
It’s disheartening that companies can legally deceive people just by following a few guidelines.
The regulations are a good start, but they are weak. Business owners need to be informed of a legitimate filing option, and it needs to be printed directly on the misleading document.
At a minimum, the state should require a link to the Secretary of State website, with instructions clearly explaining how to file a Statement of Information directly with the SOS, and the SOS’s $20 fee.
Read more information about Assembly Bill 75 here.
It’s Easy To File Your California Statement Of Information Yourself
Instead of paying a third party a hefty fee to file your Statement of Information, you can do it on your own. There are three ways to do this.
Option 1: File Online
The fastest and easiest way to file your Statement of Information is through the California Secretary of State website.
Bizfile is the California Secretary of State portal for businesses filings, searches, and business records
Bizfile is the California Secretary of State portal for businesses filings, searches, and business records
To file a Statement of Info for your LLC, click on the “LLC Statement of Information” button, which will take you to this page:
LLC Statement of Information page on the California Secretary of State website
Search for your LLC name or entity number and follow the instructions on the subsequent pages.
Quick and painless, the process took me less than 20 minutes to complete. I paid my $20 fee and submitted my email address to receive a free PDF copy of my filed Statement of Information.
Option 2: Complete A PDF Form
The official Statement of Information form
If you don’t want to file online, complete a PDF form, then mail it to the Secretary of State or drop it off at their office. Their mailing address is different from their in-person address; refer to the instructions on the form for the addresses.
You can download the form through the Secretary of State website.
Or, you can request the form via email.
Option 3: Complete A Hard Copy Form
As I mentioned earlier, CPS said that they file Statements of Information for those who don’t have access to a computer or the internet. I contacted the Secretary of State, and it is possible to file without a computer or internet access.
You can pick up, complete, and file the Statement of Information form at the Secretary of State’s office in Sacramento. If you can’t make it to their office, you can request to have a form mailed to you by calling (916) 657-5448.
Once you’ve completed the form, mail it to the Secretary of State or drop it off at their office. See the instructions on the form for their addresses.
Please note that this information is current as of April 2021. In case things have changed, and for more info, visit the Secretary of State website.
When To File Your Statement of Information & Current Fees
In California, we are required to file our Statement of Information at the following milestones:
Milestone 1: File Your Statement Of Information When You Start Your Business
You need to file your initial Statement of Information within 90 days of forming your LLC.
The filing fee is $20. You can request to have a hard copy of the completed Statement of Info mailed to you for $1. Add $5 if you want the hard copy certified. If you want a PDF copy of the completed Statement of Info emailed to you, it’s free.
The certification is stamped, signed, and dated on the back of the California Statement of Information. For what it’s worth, 2016 was the last year I had my Statement of Info certified and mailed to me. Now, I just request a free PDF copy sent via email.
Milestone 2: File Your Statement Of Information Biennially
After filing your initial Statement of Information, you will need to file another one every two years.
The fees are the same as the initial Statement of Info, and you can request to have a PDF copy of the completed Statement of Info emailed to you for free.
The Secretary of State will mail you an official reminder postcard a couple of months before your biennial filing is due.
Warning: CPS conveniently sends out their Statement of Information solicitation a few months before the official Secretary of State reminder notice is scheduled to land in your mailbox. Keep an eye out for your official reminder.
This is what the official notice from the California Secretary of State looks like (front and back of postcard):
Milestone 3: File Your Statement Of Information When There Are Changes To Your Business Information
If you have any changes to your business info between the two-year filings, you need to file a Statement of Information noting these changes.
This filing is free. You can request to have a hard copy of the completed Statement of Info mailed to you for $1. Add $5 if you want the hard copy certified. If you want a PDF copy of the completed Statement of Info emailed to you, it’s free.
Please note that this information is current as of April 2021. For the most up-to-date filing instructions and additional info, visit the Secretary of State website:
Tips To Avoid Getting Scammed
Some of these tips may seem like common sense, but scammers are experts at deception, and it can be easy to fall prey to their schemes when we least expect it.
A scammer might solicit you through physical mail, email, text messages, phone calls, or in person, at your doorstep.
When you suspect that a scammer is targeting you, check your records to see if you owe anything for the service or product in question. Even if you are officially due to make a payment, scrutinize the solicitation for authenticity.
Look out for unusual grammar and misspelled words. Verify contact info, including return addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. Confirm that the payment amounts shown are correct.
If you suspect that someone is impersonating a company you do business with, reach out to the company directly via the contact info on their website or another reliable source. Don’t use the contact info on the suspicious mailer or solicitation.
If a person or business seems shady, do an online search of their name, phone number, and address. Add words like “scam,” “fraud,” “complaint,” or “legit” to your search to see if others have made complaints.
If someone is conveying a sense of urgency, that’s a red flag. Don’t panic. Take a step back and do some research, whether checking your records, doing an online search, or consulting an official.
Bonus Privacy Tip For Home-Based Business Owners
Anyone can access your Statement of Information data indefinitely. Even if you shut down your business and dissolve your LLC, your info will remain publicly available.
This may sound morbid – but even after you die, your info will remain publicly available.
I repeat – your info will always be publicly available.
For home-based businesses, the required data in the California Statement of Information that I feel are particularly sensitive are our addresses:
- Street addresses of principal office (P.O. boxes are not allowed)
- Mailing address of LLC
- Street address of California office (P.O. boxes are not allowed)
- Addresses of the LLC’s managers or members
- Street address of the agent for service of process (P.O. boxes are not allowed)
If your privacy is important to you (as it should be), don’t provide your home address in your Statement of Information. Instead, if you work out of your home, I recommend using a mailbox service for your business correspondence. Since P.O. boxes are not allowed for some address types, you’ll need to rent a non-USPS mailbox. Unfortunately, this creates another expense for your business, but it is absolutely worth your privacy, safety, and peace of mind.
Why I Wrote About CPS
Business owners need to be aware of companies that could be mistaken for government agencies. We also need to know who we are sending our money to. Paying an extra fee to a third-party service like CPS to file your Statement of Information is your choice, but there are other options. In my experience, I’ve found that it’s easy to file a Statement of Information without outside assistance, and the Secretary of State provides us with several simple ways to do so.
This article does not provide legal advice.
I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or business adviser. I am a small business owner sharing my experiences and research. I hate seeing business owners (or anyone for that matter) get manipulated, so I hope that this post will help you make informed decisions and prevent you from getting hurt.
Keep Up To Date With The Secretary Of State
Processes, regulations, and fees may have changed since the time I wrote this post.
For accurate and current information, head over to the California Secretary of State website.
Be vigilant, and stay safe!
About The Artwork On This Page
The Hero Image
Since this topic of this article is admittedly dull, I tried to liven up this post with fun images. The hero image is an ukiyo-e (woodblock) print, titled Fumiyomu onna. It was made in the 1780s by Japanese artist Utamaro Kitagawa.
Perhaps Fumiyomu onna illustrates my bemused expression as I read CPS’s letter.
The Background Pattern
To express the ridiculousness of someone trying to deceive you, I used a background pattern of warped lines for the hero image and some supporting images. I created the pattern with the Envelope Distort function in Adobe Illustrator. Here’s a YouTube video that shows you how to do this.
Image Sources
I used screenshots and scanned hardcopy mailings to develop the supporting images.
The ☛manicules☚, or pointing hands, are from Thunder Pixels Co.
Fumiyomu onna is available for download as a public-domain image from the Library of Congress, which hosts over 15 million free-to-use digital assets. When you’re in a pickle looking for unique art to illustrate your blog posts, the Library of Congress is a fantastic resource.
If you’re interested, I wrote an article about downloading free public domain images courtesy of the Library of Congress and other government agencies like NASA (Visible Earth) and the National Library of Medicine. You might be surprised at the unusual finds out there for the taking.
I received this letter two days ago as a new owner of an LLC company i was shocked on how much I have to paid to this. Start doing some research before pay and I’m so glad I find this poster thank you just save me $295.00 that I do not have lol. 2023 and they still scamming people with this my first red flag was we are not a governmental organization I live in Kentucky, and I would like to prevent people as well to get scammed like this.
thank you so much.
Norgelis, I’m so happy to hear you didn’t get cheated out of $295! I hope other business owners in Kentucky don’t fall for this horrible scam, either. Thanks for your comment!
I was about to pay but something didn’t seem right. So glad I found your article.
I’m so happy to hear that, Jimmi! Take care!
Just got a letter by mail asking $150 and Penalty of $250 ??
I remember I used to pay $20 annual fees + $5 for extra copy ..
I checked , it is a SCAM from what so called C.P.S. guys , take care
It’s great that you remembered the actual fees and didn’t send your money to those scammers. Thanks for your comment AJ, and take care!
Thanks so much for this thorough analysis. I also received the same “offer” and was highly suspicious. Especially when I saw the statement at the bottom “THIS PRODUCT OR SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR ENDORSED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, AND THIS OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE BY ANY AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT”. Seems like a dead giveaway that this is a scam and this statement is just a CYA. Then they ask you to sign acknowledging that you understand the conditions of the offer to remove themselves from liability. So I tossed it in the trash.
Thanks for your comment, William! Happy to hear you tossed that scam letter in the trash where it belongs!
You rock Linda U! As a first time LLC business owner I have felt quite overwhelmed with all the new paperwork and almost fell for this scam. Most importantly all your awesome work was so reassuring in reminding me that there are more GOOD guys out there than the bad ones like these CPS scumbags.
Thanks so much, Mike! Your comment made my day. Wishing you the best with your LLC!
Thank you so much for your detailed research and analysis. This letter seemed sus so I was sniffing around about it and found this article. Thank you so much for your time and for looking out for fellow small business owners. All the best!
Thank you, Alli! All the best to you as well!
I am in Colorado and just received a REFUND check from CPS saying its services were not needed because I had already filed for my business. I must have been in a rush when I received the original letter asking for payment and sent them the check. Have you heard anything about this? (Refund checks from CPS?)
I’ve never heard about CPS issuing refunds. That’s very interesting. Thanks Jean!
Back in Apr 2022, I sent them a check $120 because the original letter looked legit and I was in a rush. And on 1/23/23, I received the $120 REFUND check from CPS in Sacramento, CA saying their services were not needed. As of today 4/30/23, I still have the check but not sure if it’s safe to deposit it to my bank.
Hi Bob, that’s interesting. I’d be wary about depositing the check, too. Could bring the check to your bank in-person and ask them if it’s safe to deposit? Let me know what you decide to do.
i got one of these letters today it seemed fishy. it seems like fraud, and sucks it isn’t being handled as such. thanks for doing this write up and giving some research into this scammy company and practice!
Thanks for reading, Jaz! I’m happy you didn’t fall for this scam!
Thank you for this amazing article! You’ve helped so many people from getting scammed. Appreciate you!
That is very sweet of you! Thanks Courtni!
Thanks so much for this information. I stopped by my office today and found this exact letter with all the details you described such as the mail stamp with a zip code far away from Sacramento. Fortunately, this month, I figured out what you mentioned about using the State website when I changed my business address. So, I just paid $20 and a few days later I received a letter asking me to pay again. I’m so glad I found your article which was one of the first one to pop up from the search uisng “C.P.S.”. It was very helpful and I will not pay $150! Thanks again!!
Nice! Your comment made my day. Thanks Benoit!
Thanks for confirming my doubts. It’s now $150. Ha ha…
Wow, glad you didn’t fork over $150 to them! Thanks Stephan.
Thank you Linda!
I was researching the source of this C.P.S. mailing when I came across your page. Thanks for taking the time to lay the situation out for everyone.
Thanks for your kind comment, Ken!
I totally fell for this scam as I was worried I was going to get into trouble being a new LLC. 🙁 I paid the $120…I feel like such a fool. Wish I had found your post before I paid. Thanks for posting about this!
Hi Chris, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I suppose this is one of those things we experience as we embark on new ventures. I’ve had my fair share of hiccups and still have so much to learn. Thank you for sharing your experience, and best wishes on your new LLC!
THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION. OUR BUSINESS JUST RECEIVED THIS LETTER AND WE HAVE ONLY BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR EIGHT MONTHS. SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR SAVING US $150.00.
Happy to help! Thanks for your comment, and congrats on your new business.
I received the same letter today. They made the form to look legit. I panicked at first thinking I forgot to pay SOS but after I found my SOI dated current year I decided to research and found your article. Thank you so much for the clarification!!!!
I’m so happy to hear you didn’t fall for their scam. Thanks for visiting, Julia!
I’m a California CPA and I can tell you that these scammers are lying when they say that they are “cheaper than an accountant or attorney.” While it can be helpful for a small business to consult with an attorney or CPA to help get things set up properly (for example, deciding between an LLC, corporation, or partnership), the annual statement of information is designed to be a straightforward, do-it-yourself process. 90% of the small businesses & nonprofits I work with are able to file their statement of information themselves without my assistance – the other 10% get confused by these misleading mailers and I have to explain that it’s a scam. Going forward I’ll also share this link!
Thank you for your insight and for spreading the word!
Thank you Linda, it felt like a scam but looked so official. Your post really explained it all with great detail. I appreciate the time you put into this.
Thanks so much for your comment, Bonnie!
I received the same letter yesterday and I am filing a Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company on ROB BONTA Attorney General website right now.
Thank you Linda for this article!
That is awesome, Darko. Thank you for taking action!
Thanks for the article. I had already figured out it was a scam, but was searching to find out who CPS was and came across your article, which was a nice confirmation.
Thanks Gail, I’m glad you found us.
Thank you for this in-depth post on these scam mailings. I opened it and it seemed fishy. I searched for information and this blog post came up. I went straight to bizfile and made sure they received my SoI, and they had. I was in good standing and up-to-date. Thanks again for putting the time and effort into this post. It’s saving people from getting scammed and keeping money in their pockets.
Thank you for your comments, Bruce! It’s great to hear you didn’t give your hard-earned money to these scammers.
Thank you! I received this letter and was nervous, but your article was very informative and I’m glad I did my research before sending an unnecessary payment!
I’m so happy to hear this helped! Thank you, WC!
Thank you so very much for doing that homework!! I usually go deep on scams, and thought something was fishy when I received this – especially since I have been doing this (apparently, longer than they’ve been “in business”) for a few years. I, in fact, thought that it was another one of those annual solicitations for workplace postings – so it was no surprise that that’s one of the affiliated companies you found. Excellent work!!
Thanks for visiting, Linda! I was surprised that someone would have the gall to scam people like this, so I just had to find out more!
Almost fell for this myself, so glad I did my own research and looked up the fee the last time I filed for our LLC. I keep detailed notes and saw that this can easily be paid online and should be a lower amount. On my state’s website there is an entire page alerting people to this scam with a link to a complaint process with the attorney general’s office. I wonder if it’s even worth the trouble to complain, I really want them out of business.
https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/customer-alerts/alert-misleading-solicitations-statements-information
Thanks for sharing your research, Cynthia!
Thank you so much for taking the time to alert everyone to this scam — it confirmed my suspicions. I especially appreciated the links to the official Secretary of State website links. Best wishes to you in the New Year!
Thanks for your kind comment, Raoul! I’m glad to hear this helped. Happy New Year!
They just sent us a new version of this scam letter circulating now called “Declaration of Member and Managers” for California Limited Liability Companies. It even looks more official as the form is boldly labeled “501-LLC” on the upper left corner like any other IRS official form. CPS is charging a Service Process Fee of $243 this time around. It basically is the biennial Statement of Information filing, except they are scaring people by highlighting this particular requirement and claiming your entity might be suspended or “taken”. Ridiculous. CPS acronym now stands for Corporate Processing Service – very official sounding. But at a more greedy charge of $243 to file, the warning about a $250 penalty is not very effective. BEWARE!
Wow. They are absolutely relentless. Thank you for the heads up, David!
I received two of them send them back with red ink and FRAUD written across the letter. Told them not to send them to me any more and that they had the information of my minor children on them. I hope this gets my point across!
It’s disturbing that they have not just your business info, but your children’s info. Please be safe, Michelle. I hope they stop bothering you.
Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together, it was so helpful!!
Thank you, Annie!
Thanks! Really helpful info.
Thanks Rick!
I just got one of these, too! Similar situation where I’m a small LLC. This is super messed up. I googled the address b/c it seemed a little weird and I didn’t remember paying this much in the past and I found your blog. Thank you!
Hi Laurie! It’s a bummer that they prey on small businesses like ours. So happy to hear that you followed your intuition and didn’t get scammed. Thanks for visiting!
THANK YOU. I, too, just got this suspicious letter, googled, and this informative (and infuriating!) article came up first. It’s galling because you KNOW it works. They probably get hundreds of people a week who get a bill, and pay the bill — either because they are elderly, or busy, or confused, and just don’t want to get dinged by the government! ARGH. This is really valuable info.
Thanks for visiting, Jennifer! You’re right – I bet they get tons of checks from unsuspecting people. It’s appalling. I’m happy to hear that you didn’t fall for it.
Yes. Thanks. I’m in NJ but the same scam. I filled out the form until I got to $160 charge, then researched and found you.
Wow, $160 is steep! Glad you didn’t fall for it. Thanks for reading, Brian!
Linda Uehara, Thank you so very much for your researching this scam, you saved another one from making a huge mistake. There were red flags every where that needed to be checked out and you did it. i can not thank you enough. i can not understand how Sacramento (SOS) can be so careless in making our private information so easy to get of with all these dishonest people. It is very upsetting. No wonder we are breeding these leeches. I would once again like to thank you, and have a great day.
Thank you for your comment, Donald! It is absolutely unsettling that our info is out there for the scammers to take advantage of. I’m glad you weren’t duped. Take good care!
Thank you for the excellent research and information, Linda! We received this today and immediately marked it as scam, but still double-checked online. The so-called ‘random’ letters in their name don’t seem random at all, because when you google C.P.S. or CPS, with or without Sacramento, the top result is the official site for Child Protective Services. The audacity to use that abbreviation is appalling! They should be called out and shamed on social media posts that include a direct tag/handle to the Sec of State, Governor and Attorney General.
Hi D.K.! Calling them out on social media is an excellent idea. We need to get the word out, warn others, and pressure our legislators to enact stronger and more effective laws to protect us. Thanks for your comments!
Amazing article, thank you for taking the time to write it. I am literally tearing up a check I just made out for $120 to CPS!
I’m so happy that CPS won’t be getting your check! Thanks for your comment, Josh!
Thank you for sharing this information! I figured it was a scam, but wanted to be sure. It makes me mad that some people will get taken advantage of, though, and probably those who can’t afford it.
Thanks for reading, Sharon! It really is upsetting when people get taken advantage of. I’m glad you didn’t get scammed.
Thank you! I do appreciate you taking the time to inform everyone regarding this scam. It almost got me. I had to read through it a couple more times and did a research and bumped into your blog. Which I’m glad I did!
Thanks for visiting and sharing your comments, Jen! I love hearing from business owners who didn’t fall for this scam.
Like you and others here I also almost fell for this official looking letter but then I remembered that I had filed the year before and the $120 fee seemed exorbitant considering I had always paid $20 at each filing deadline. I would not be surprised if some have been duped by this official looking letter considering how it looks and many might overlook the bold words stating that CPS is not associated with any government agency. I hope others read your web post before paying the $120 fee. For all we know this agency might not even file the form. Thank you.
Hi Ernesto, I agree – I wouldn’t be surprised if others have mistakenly sent that hefty $120 fee to this company. It’s great to hear that you didn’t fall for their scam. Thanks for reading!
They almost got me, their form looks so much like the official one. A few things tipped me off – first I knew it was unusual to be sent the form, as the S.O.S usually just sends a reminder, then the payee made me double check with the S.O.S. website – they should have a warning on their website, I found nothing there, but when I typed in CPS and statement of info your article came up – thank you! I can only imagine how much money they make off of unaware people. Shameful!
Hi Stacey, it sure is shameful how they deceive unsuspecting business owners. It’s great that your research kept you from sending them any money. Thanks for visiting!
just got one of their mailings and i, like you thought the 120$$ was unusual and i did not remember CPS from my last renewal of my business info with my state.
this was good to see so thank you for posting. i always check this tiff our anyway because i’m suspicious, but thank you for taking the time to dig deeper also, and post about it!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Ziggy! I’m always suspicious of these types of mailings, too. It’s so good to hear when other business owners avoid getting scammed.
I almost got scammed too, luckily we don’t have physical checks, So I had to ask for another option. I called them, and they said they don’t have any online services, which is a red flag in these days. I also talked to my business partner, and he was a little suspicious. So I did some digging and found my way here. Thanks so much for putting all this info together.
Eric, I’m so glad that they weren’t able to take any of your hard-earned money. It’s good to be a little suspicious, even when the solicitations appear legit. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thank you so much for all the research you have done and for sharing it! I got the same letter yesterday and was worried that it was just ANOTHER government grab. Glad to know it is bogus!
I also didn’t realize my address is publicly available, thanks for the heads up!!!
Bless you for your kindness!
It’s crazy that bad actors can access our info so easily. We need to look out for one another. Thanks for visiting, Debra!
My wife said I should make sure to send this out so we didn’t get a fine. I am horrible at sending out things on time, so she is always very helpful and organized, and as I was writing the check I saw the this is not from a governmental organization… and thought “wait a second” did I just get scammed?”
I found your page straight away, and I want to personally thank you for saving me $100 bucks. You are awesome, and as a designer I loved that you added some thoughtfulness and elegance to your informative page. I like the cut of your jib Linda.
I’m so happy to hear that you didn’t fall prey to that malicious scheme, Tanner. Thank you so much for your support. Your comments made my day!
Saved me from getting scammed. Thanks! I saw the letter and was suspicious too. Almost got me.
David, so happy that you didn’t get scammed. Thanks for reading!
I just opened a small business July 2021, I think I paid them last year because I didn’t know better.. today I Just received the same letter from CPS in New Jersey. Thank God I read this post its the exact the same thing. Thank you
I received another letter from CPS recently, too. It’s the same as the one from a couple of years ago. They just don’t give up, do they? Thanks for visiting, Jussie!
Thank you so much for providing this information at your own time and expense! You are outstanding!
Hi Tom, I appreciate your kind comment. Thank you so much for reading!
Wow Linda, I appreciate the work you put into this post. It looks so official, sad that people spend their lives trying to trick people. The world is a better place because of people like you. This was a perfect post for me to find.
Thank you, Nick, for your incredibly thoughtful comment. Take good care!
Thank you for sharing your story. I received the same document and was curious about the $ amount and the payment by check option. The Statement of Information can be filed online under the Secretary of State. I paid $ 20 the last time I filed it. Be aware!!!!
Thank you, David! Let’s get the word out about this scam!
I got same mail today and had same experience as your descripted. I did search my record with ftb.gov and also check the address (for receive check) on their letter. It is a Scam!! for sure. I am really do not understand, how this kind of business can exist.
Anyway, your information will give great helps for small business owners.
Thank you.
Thanks for your comment, Ray! It baffles me, too, how these scammers can be in business.
Thanks so much for this information. I received this letter in the mail today, and it looked suspicious. I’m so glad I came across your article. It was very helpful and it saved me! Thanks again!!
Happy to help, Stephanie! Thanks for your comment and take care!