AG Weiser announced a major enforcement sweep targeting thousands of allegedly fraudulently filed businesses, many of which used Colorado registrations to help facilitate scams and other unlawful activity.

The lawsuits seek court orders to dissolve thousands of allegedly fraudulent businesses registered in Colorado that attorneys say were created using false information, including the unauthorized use of Colorado residents’ home addresses as purported business locations and the unlawful use of virtual mailboxes as registered agents without consent. Colorado homeowners allegedly had fraudulent businesses registered to their addresses without their knowledge, resulting in unwanted mail, complaints, and confusion tied to businesses they had no connection to. According to the complaints, the entities were connected to broader fraud schemes operating across the United States and internationally, including networks based in China and Southeast Asia. The entities are linked to cryptocurrency scams, investment fraud, romance scams, and online retail scams. Victims in some cases allegedly lost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars after relying on Colorado business registrations and “good standing” certificates before sending money to fraudulent businesses.

“These scams succeed because they manufacture trust. Fraudsters exploited Colorado business registrations to make their operations appear legitimate and convince consumers to hand over their money. These scams are becoming more sophisticated, more convincing, and more financially devastating. Consumers should be especially cautious when approached online with investment opportunities, cryptocurrency trading platforms, or requests to move money quickly. A business registration alone does not guarantee a company is legitimate.” – AG Weiser