Business Identity Theft

Overview

Business identity theft occurs when criminals steal a company’s identity to conduct fraudulent activities such as opening bank accounts, diverting funds, applying for credit, or committing other financial crimes.

• Thousands of companies fall victim to business identity theft each year.

• The consequences can be financially devastating and lead to complex legal and credit issues.

Protecting your business identity is essential to safeguarding your reputation, your customers, and your financial stability.

Protect Your Business from Identity Theft

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office offers tools and resources to help you protect your business from identity theft.

Sign Up for the Business Filing Notification System

This free service alerts you by email whenever a filing is made on your business, trademark, or service mark record with the Secretary of State’s office.

What You’ll Need to Enroll

• A valid email address.

• The entity number (charter, registration, or license) for each business, trademark, or service mark you want to monitor.

• A separate registration for each entity number.

Find your entity number:

Use the Business Name Search tool on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. By signing up, you’ll be able to monitor your filings in real time — helping detect unauthorized activity before it causes harm.

Steps to Prevent and Detect Business Identity Theft

Take the following precautions to reduce your risk and detect suspicious activity early:

1. Enroll in the Business Filing Notification System for automatic alerts.

2. Regularly review your business information on the Secretary of State’s website.

3. Monitor your business credit rating through reputable credit bureaus.

4. Sign up for notifications from your bank, creditors, and service providers.

5. Review financial accounts and bills regularly; report any suspicious transactions.

6. Protect sensitive identifiers, including your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and account numbers.

7. Establish policies for credit card usage and prompt reporting of lost or stolen cards.

8. Maintain an inventory of sensitive business documents.

9. Store sensitive records securely in locked or encrypted locations.

10. Destroy sensitive paper documents using a cross-cut or confetti shredder.

11. Never share confidential information via email or unsecured online platforms.

These proactive measures are simple yet powerful ways to reduce your risk of identity theft and protect your business.

If Your Business Is a Victim of Identity Theft

If you suspect your business identity has been stolen, take action immediately. Acting quickly can help minimize damage and support law enforcement investigations.

Steps to Take

1. Report the theft to local law enforcement.

2. Notify your bank and credit institutions.

3. Contact the major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion).

4. Request a business credit report and speak with each agency’s fraud department.

5. Place a fraud alert on all business accounts.

6. Contact creditors where fraudulent accounts were opened; request copies of all documents used to open or access those accounts.

7. Monitor new filings in the Secretary of State’s Business Search tool for unauthorized changes.

8. Seek help from trusted organizations, such as:

   • Identity Theft Resource Center

   • Better Business bureau (BBB)

   • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Note: The faster you act, the better your chances of containing financial losses and restoring your company’s identity.