WA Sues 2 For Sending 'Deceptive' Letters To Small Businesses

SEATTLE — Washington state has set its sights on a pair of suspect businesses that, according to a pair of lawsuits filed this week in King County Superior Court, duped more than 15,000 Washington businesses out of over $1.2 million.

According to an update from Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office, the Attorney General's suit alleges the two businesses, CA Certificate Service and Labor Poster Compliance, sent out more than 210,000 "deceptive" letters to small business owners in Washington. The letters were designed to look like they came from a government office, and demanded that businesses pay up for “Certificate of Status” or a workers rights poster— the kind that the government offers for free.

All told, CA Certificate Service charged 14,743 businesses $82.50 each for their posters, while Labor Poster Compliance charged over 318 businesses $79.25 a pop for their product.

"Ferguson will also soon file motions for preliminary injunction to shut down the companies’ operations in Washington and prevent further mailings of their deceptive letters while the cases are ongoing," the Attorney General's Office said in a news release. "The Attorney General’s Office continues to receive complaints about the letters and Washingtonians have so far filed 90 complaints."

The lawsuit asks that the court require both companies to pay back their deceptively earned gains, and pay up to $7,500 per violation of the Consumer Protection Act, plus attorneys' costs and fees.

“Small businesses power our economy,” Ferguson said. “With this lawsuit, I intend to get the impacted business owners their money back – with interest.”

Though the suits have been filed, the Attorney General's Office says there may be more victims unaccounted for. If your business fell victim to either of these scams, the AGO says to file a complaint online or call toll-free at 1-800-551-4636.