Just received a request for payment within a few days for $175.27 for 2026 annual renewal prep, so called my agent and accountant to see if this was legit and they advised to look it up and I see others have said this is a scam and both my agent and accountant said it was a scam so Don't just pay without checking first. Do your homework and ask those you trust before paying anything. Needles to say this went into the shredder. read more

where did these letters come from?!?? scammy!!! i thought i was doing business through the NYS government website only. WHO GAVE OUR INFO OUT?!? i got one letter for certificate of status for $87.25 then i got one "minute meetings" for $148.67 THEN I GOT $92.58 for a freaking POSTER for labor laws. be so for real. read more

Glad I googled this address which turns out to be a scam. I received the same letter asking for a $87.25 payment for a certificate status. Please disregard! read more

NY Certificate Service - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

SCAM. BEWARE. Received this days after I registered my business license. $87 requested for some business status. It says on the letter that they're not a government agency. read more

NY Certificate Service - scam letter received ! - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

SCAM ALERT. Thankfully i checked first it does look somewhat official but it did seem a little off. I am super annoyed these people have my info though. What a bunch of scumbags. read more

Got the same letter in all of the pictures posted here on Yelp when I created my business just a few days ago. I thought it was fishy so I googled the company and address. Glad I did. I am so appreciative of all your comments. Beware, this address also sends out a Corporate Meetings Minutes annual statement asking for $148.67. They put a couple NYS business laws in there making it look like its needed. They also sent out a Business Posting Department letter asking for $92.58 stating its state law to have it posted. Unreal how this is legal. read more

I am grateful I came on here. I received an official looking document for my LLC with request for payment of 87.25. Obviously I did not pay.

Scam praying on new business owners. Try looking like official mail. I got 2 pieces of mail from these clowns and looked them up online. The address is of a strip mall in Albany NY. If you send these scammers money don't expect anything good to come of it. read more

SCAM! I'm a new small business owner and I received this letter much to my confusion about what it was. It looks very official but after some research online, I concluded it is a scam. A certificate of status is required for certain business activities and can be requested directly from the NY State Department for only $25. This letter tried to get $87.50 out of me! Not sure if the letter I got is the same as other reviews but it looks very familiar - it just has a Smithtown address so maybe they are changing their addresses to be more discreet. read more

NY Certificate Service - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

Scammers 100% !!!!!!!! I received this letter. With a request to pay a fee, for a certificate of status. But I made at online (https://dos.ny.gov/certificate-status) and paid all fees on the state website. Then I received my certificate by e-mail. PS one thing I do not understand how these fraudsters receive personal data sent to a state institution?!!!!!! read more

NY Certificate Service - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

On 2/22/2025, I got a Certificate of Status Request Form, telling me to pay $87.25 and send it to NY Certificate Service, 911 Central Ave STE 24 #132, Albany NY 12206. The form looked suspicious and so did the address. I'm glad I googled the address. This is clearly a scam. I also got a Business Posting Department letter telling me I needed to pay $92.58 for a State & Federal Labor Law Poster and mail the check to Business Posting Department, 911 Central Ave Ste 24-199, Albany NY 12206. I'm NOT MAILING THESE CROOKS ANYTHING. read more

Just echoing that this is indeed a scam. I formed an S-Corp, and all the paperwork was handled by my tax preparers. A week later, these two official-looking letters come in, asking for money. These weasels must just comb through lists of newly incorporated businesses and send this crap out, hoping people won't read/think too carefully about it. Just shred and ignore! read more

Here to confirm that this is indeed a scam. Thank you for the people who have posted above about this scam.

DO NOT SEND MONEY!!! It's a SCAM!!! Right after I opened my new LLC with NYS, I got some official letters from the state and from IRS, accompanied with 3 additional letters that appeared official, but apparently weren't. One was from Corporate Document Services requesting $148.67 for corporate meeting minutes, citing NYS business laws and a deadline to respond by, and the other was from Business Resource Center for $87.25 for a Certificate of Status request form. Both used the same address, which I didn't notice until after the fact. I sent them each postal money orders but never heard back. I tried calling but never got through and when I looked up their address, saw that it corresponded to a UPS address at Westgate Plaza in Albany, NY. I called the number and the person I spoke to said they were aware but couldn't do anything? Hmmm...she didn't ask me any questioned, just hurried me off the phone. Made me wonder... read more

SCAM SCAM SCAM!! ‼ it seems they prey on first time business owners that will assume this is a government agency LIKE I DID and assumes this is mandated and mailed by the state of New York, since the letter they mail is very very official looking, it mimics exactly something the state would send that be similar to a tax bill or a bill that has to be paid to the state, the letter even has a return address from Albany the state capital, and the company name is "NY CERTIFICATE SERVICE" anyways the letter makes it seem like you have a very short window to respond and pay to get your state certificate or else you can't get started on your business. I read the letter multiple times when I first got it and didn't think anything of it until I was about to pay and I decide to read the letter again and meticulously go over every detail and that's when I noticed and very, very small fine print that is just six words quoting exactly " This is not a government agency." and that is the only heads up you get. That's when I realize this was just a complete money grab at unsuspecting first time business owners that don't know any better like myself who almost felt victim to this, they assume we'll just pay for this certificate. I WOULD JUST POINT OUT this certificate is probably not need it if you registered your business with a firm that takes care of all that. It should be illegal what this company is doing I can only imagine how much money they're making. I suggest you file a complaint with the NYS Attorney General for this deceiving practice. read more

NY Certificate Service - The only heads up that they are not affiliated with the government - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

Got a letter for my LLC today, Echoing that this is a scam. The Albany address is a UPS address and there isn't any .gov association.

As the other reviewers state, this looks official, but is a scam. I received the letter as soon as I registered my business. They must buy a mailing list from legal zoom, disgusting. read more

Thank you everyone for your reviews. I have just received their mail at the same time with my certificate of corporation mail asking me to pay $87.25. I found that weird, but I almost fell in their trap thinking that as both mails came together, they may be legit; I almost bought the money order but good that I had the idea to check them online before buying the money order and I found all your useful reviews. Thank you. read more

Scam! This is not the service provided by the state. please ignore the notice. you can get your Certificate from MYS for $25 read more

Likewise. I opened an LLC and of course I get this letter in the mail asking for $87.25 for check an elective "New York Certificate of Status". read more

Anyone who gets a letter from this place, be aware they are scam! I got a letter in February from "NY Certificate Service, 911 Central Ave Westgate Plaza, Suite 132, Albany NY 12206" which looked like official government letterhead, and its content seemed mandatory and immediate to pay for their services, requiring me to get a certificate for my new business. I soon found out when I did not receive the certificate and from speaking with a lawyer that they are fraud and should be reported immediately. The people (Royce, Kevin, Jesse) of this company do not have a website nor email addresses. Report them! read more

NY Certificate Service - If you get this, you must report to the police, Secretary General and State - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

Scam! Spoke with the guy who picked up the phone. They have no web site! He said _ we are buying the certificates form the government for $25 and sell it to you for $87. No pressure, you dont have to buy it. How do they get out information!?? Does someone know how to report them?? read more

It's a scam. Don't send your money. The letter looks very legitimate but it's all a ruse.

SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM Do not purchase. Anything you need will come from the NY Dept of State. read more

Has anybody actually looked up the address of these scammers? The address is a Cricket Wireless store in Westgate Plaza in Albany, New York. That should send up the red flags for everyone right there. Second, if you do require a Certificate of Status for anything, they are $25.00 through the Department of State. You do not need to pay a third party to order a Certificate of Status. Hope this helps. read more

I got the same. It's asking about secret information about the company and asking free money. I google it and it already show 2016 scam alert. N I found yelp reviews and I added to help review read more

I fell for it, and sent them a check for $87.25, which they cashed; but instead of sending me my certificate, they sent another solicitation for $87.25. I called their office, but nobody home. I feel stupid that I did not do my research before sending them money, but I was busy and this looked legit... please learn from my oversight, and file your solicitation in the so-called "circular file"... the trash can! These people are SCAMMERS! - Jim read more

NY Certificate Service - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

I'm glad I looked this one up on the internet. Saw the low ratings and read over my notice mailed to me. They have a blurb at the bottom. Local records office is not affiliated with the county in which your deed is filed in nor affiliated with any government agencies. This offers serves as a solicitation for services at not to be interpreted as a bill doom this product or service has not been approved or endorsed by any governmental agency as this offer is not being made by an agency of government. This is not a bill this is a solicitation you are under no obligation to pay the amount stated unless you accept this offer. It tells you it's a scam. read more

I got the letter from NY certificate business too - Thank goodness I checked the legitimacy of this business because it looked pretty suspicious. Thank you fellow yelpers! read more

It is a scam. I just registered a new business and got this letter. Luckily my accountant let me know that it was a total scam. Adding this review to let everyone know it's still active. Not really sure how they get away with doing this. read more

I got one too. First red flag: NYS does not use parchment paper for their communications. A Certificate of Status is something that you have the option to request, not something the state solicits for you to request. Also, if you do request one, it costs $25. The letter I got is asking me for $87.25. They are preying on people's excitement about having finished setting up a new business. Disgusting. Especially now when we need to band together to fight this pandemic. read more

Please beware (check the fine print above the dotted line). If you're starting a business, please double check everything so that you don't end up your wasting money. read more

NY Certificate Service - "Request Form" - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

Similar to the first comment, I too received this letter in the mail that seemed legit. After some digging on google and searching the address, it turns out this is definitely not a legitimate company or letter. A Certificate of Status is not time sensitive and is only valid for about 2 or 3 months. DO NOT send in this form if you receive it! You will know when you need to obtain a Certificate of Status, which can be done in 24 hours for $25, not $87.25! read more

NY Certificate Service - Please beware if you receive this letter! Do not fall victim. - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

This is still VERY active! I got a letter in the mail, similar to the others asking for $87.25 payment. I was about to write a check then I decided to call my lawyer who confirmed its a private company and NOT NYS. read more

My parents just got this same Letter. SCAM! Didn't even have the correct address on it. Thankfully we did some research before sending money. How have these people Not been stopped? read more

I wrote away for my Certificate and spoke to a guy names Kevin, and guy named Jesse, and and unnamed girl. Kevin on 3 different occasions said he mailed the certificate out which was a red flag since I never received it and have never had a problem receiving my mail. When I asked Kevin who his supervisor was he told me that he was the supervisor- that they were short on staff. He also gave me a government phone number and said that they could email me my certificate. When I google searched Kevin's name and nothing came up I realized this was a scam. This is a fraudulent company and a complete scam. They are pretending to be the state of NY and giving you the state's phone number when you don't receive your certificate. I am including a photo of the letter I received in the mail. UPDATE: Kevin Howard is the person at this company who repeatedly lied to me saying he personally put the certificate in the mail and couldn't understand why I wasn't getting it. He is completely dishonest. The owner of this company is named Royce Wedge. Google him- he is the owner and master scam artist. If any one wants his personal address here it is 9732 49th Ave N, St Petersburg, 33708. It's public information listed on the internet. After months of trying I was able to get a refund from a nice employee named Jesse. If you're having trouble getting a refund speak to him ONLY. To wrap up- how this scam operates: they receive hundreds of calls from many states and send out a small number of certificates in comparison to their call volume. It is the same certificate that you can go online and order for yourself for $25. If you do nothing else- make sure to report this business to the Consumer Complaint Department (518-474-8583). Or you can find the complaint link on the DOS website. https://www.floridaresidentsdirectory.com/person/114217097/wedge-royce (Here are all the businesses Royce Wedge runs) https://www.corporationwiki.com/p/2fi1ls/royce-wedge read more

NY Certificate Service - Public Services & Government Near Me - Albany, New York

I recently received this letter and was searching to see I it was a legitimate or scam. Thank you for your posts.

I also just received this in the mail today. I knew it looked suspect and thankfully I also knew that the certificate of status was not required. I hope people are not falling for this. read more

I just got one in the mail for me and my husband's business and I called to find out if I could pay the $87.25 online, but the person on the other end sounded sketchy af. He said they were just a certificate service, but couldn't provide any details. I'm glad I checked online bc now i know they're fraudulent. Punks. read more

They tried to scam me on this day. I almost fell for it. I paused and did some research and came across information that this was not legit.