Business owners beware:

SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond last week warned of a scam selling fake “certificates of status” to businesses.

Secretary Hammond said the businesses had received letters in the mail from an entity called SC Certificate Service.

The letter claimed to provide a “South Carolina Certificate of Status” for $87.25, Hammond said.

“Businesses should know that this is not an official certificate issued by the State of South Carolina, and that this so-called certificate of status is not required to transact business in this state.”

The Secretary of State’s Office does not issue a certificate of status as stated in the letter.

Anyone receiving this letter or similar correspondence should contact the Secretary of State’s Office immediately at (803) 734- 2158 or through the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.sc.gov.