**Scam Campaign Report: Fraudulent Business Renewal Form Operation**
A coordinated scam campaign has been identified involving three connected phone numbers that are part of a fraudulent business renewal form scheme targeting LLC owners and Minnesota businesses. The operation uses phone numbers 877-329-4662, 317-981-1664, and 651-666-1128, which demonstrate interconnected activity through co-reporting patterns. These numbers show reported_together relationships with confidence levels of 0.35, indicating they are being used as part of the same deceptive operation despite having zero formal FTC complaints filed against them individually.
The scam involves sending official-looking documents through the mail to business owners, specifically targeting LLCs and Minnesota-based businesses. Victims report receiving letters titled "2026-ANNUAL RENEWAL INSTRUCTION FORM (MINNESOTA BUSINESSES)" that arrive in plain envelopes with no return address. These fraudulent documents are printed on legal-size paper and reference Minnesota statutes to appear legitimate. The letters request $135 payments and include return envelopes for victims to submit the funds. An entity identified as "C.P.S." appears to be behind at least some of these mailings, sending what victims describe as fraudulent forms that contain accurate business LLC information, making them appear more convincing and official.
Consumer impact appears to be in the early stages, with community reports indicating victims are recognizing the fraudulent nature of these mailings before falling victim. However, the sophisticated nature of these documents - including accurate business information and official-looking formatting with statute references - suggests significant potential for financial harm. The use of multiple connected phone numbers indicates this is an organized operation with established infrastructure designed to process victim responses and payments.
To protect yourself from this and similar scams, verify any official business renewal notices by contacting your state's Secretary of State office directly using contact information from their official website, not from the suspicious document. Legitimate government agencies typically do not request payments via mail with return envelopes and will have official letterhead and return addresses. If you receive suspicious calls from these or other unknown numbers, hang up immediately and do not provide any personal or business information. Never click on links in suspicious emails or texts related to business renewals. Report these incidents to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or file complaints with the FCC for unwanted calls. You can verify if a phone number has been reported as suspicious by checking consumer protection websites and reverse phone lookup services.
This campaign represents a moderate threat level due to the sophisticated document forgery and targeting of specific business demographics. The operation's use of multiple connected phone numbers and detailed business information suggests ongoing coordination that could expand. Business owners, particularly in Minnesota, should remain vigilant for these fraudulent renewal forms and verify all official correspondence through proper government channels before making any payments or providing information.