No, Steamin' Weenie Is Not The NY State Dept, AG Clarifies

NEW YORK CITY — Steamin' Weenie is in hot water.

The company and its top dog, Thomas Romano, must cough up $44,000 for running websites that impersonated the New York Department of State's Division of Corporations page, announced Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday.

One Steamin' Weenie scam site burned New Yorkers by charging $135 for a certified copy of a certification incorporation — a document that only costs $10 from the legit state site, officials said.

"Misleading consumers is not a smart business plan, it’s unethical and illegal," James said in a statement.

"These websites deceived hardworking New Yorkers who were simply trying to open up their own business and file the necessary paperwork to do so. Scam artists may think they are savvy, but breaking state laws and conning New Yorkers will get you into hot water with my office."

Steamin' Weenie is an Albany company, according to state records, but its fraudulent sites could have snared New York City dwellers.

New Yorkers who want to avoid scam government sites should know these things, according to advice provided by the Attorney General's Office:

• Check the URL. Government websites typically utilize a ‘.gov’ domain name and a secure connection, which can be spotted when the URL begins with “https” instead of http, and/or the browser displays a padlock icon next to the URL.
• Avoid selecting sponsored links. Typically, government websites will not appear as sponsored links after a web search.
• Find the agency you’re looking for on the state’s main website. All the states’ agencies and services can be found on www.ny.gov. For New York City agencies and services, visit www.nyc.gov. Most localities will also house all their services and agencies on their main site.
• Check the contact page. Legitimate websites have important information where web users can find how to reach a government agency, where to find that agency and social media links. The absence of a legitimate (or any) address and a working phone number should be a cause for concern.
• Check the website's privacy policy. Websites should have adequate information about privacy, terms, and conditions of use.
• Review your costs before paying. If a service fee appears to be too high, make sure you are on a legitimate government website using the tips above before making a payment.