It’s that time of year when business owners start receiving official-looking notices in the mail that appear to come from government agencies or similar organizations. These notices often focus on issues such as business registration annual renewals, labor law poster requirements or patent and trademark renewals, pressuring business owners to act quickly. These solicitations use urgent language and official-like design elements to create confusion and prompt unnecessary payments.

How to Spot These Misleading Notices

The solicitations are designed to create a false sense of urgency. Notices may threaten administrative termination or loss of rights if deadlines are missed, and often include official seal-like icons, legal references, and fine print disclaimers.

Risk of Engagement

Responding to these solicitations can trap businesses into paying unnecessary fees for services that are either free or require official approval. And once a business engages with these companies, it can be challenging to break free from the cycle. For example, a recent Minnesota look-alike notice our Firm reviewed charged a $55 fee to update a principal office address or registered agent. Yet in Minnesota, changing a registered office address requires approval from the governing body, not just payment. Additionally, changing a principal office address during an annual renewal has no associated fee, making the $55 charge completely unnecessary.

New Minnesota Law Requirements

Effective May 24, 2025, solicitations must now clearly state they are advertisements, provide direct filing information, disclose sender details, and avoid implying government affiliation or legal obligations. Envelopes must also prominently state they are not government documents.

What You Can Do

Recipients should carefully review notices for compliance with the new law, always verify the source of any correspondence claiming to be from a government agency, consult advisors before responding, and report fraudulent solicitations to the Minnesota Attorney General.