Riverside County Man to Stand Trial for Business License Scam

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Tranbarger ruled yesterday that Thomas Gerald Elder, 44, must stand trial for the unlawful collection of Riverside, CA business license fees. Dozens of Riverside County business owners may have been victims of Elder’s illegal collection of county business license fees.

Elder altered a county document which he sent to business owners in the area informing them that their Riverside, CA fictitious business names have expired and that they can renew them by mailing a check of $501 to a post office box.

These letters were sent out in March of 2011 by "San Bernardino-Riverside County Fictitious Business Name Violators Office” and they carried the county’s seal.

The Californian reports, "It was determined that about a week earlier, Elder filed a fictitious business name for that company with the Riverside County ACR office,'' district attorney's office spokesman John Hall said. "It is alleged that Elder altered county documents by removing the county clerk's address and inserting his own post office box address and added his company logo ... giving the impression his company was affiliated with the county.''

A local business owner alerted authorities when he realized that the renewal cost being asked for in the letter was significantly higher than the usual less than $50 fee.

Elder has posted the $25,000 bail amount and is currently awaiting trial.

Business license compliance is mandatory on national, federal and local levels. Operating without proper state, county and city business licenses can cost business owners thousands in fines and penalties as well as needless aggravation and problems. Business owners are urged to take advantage of Business Licenses’ "Business License Compliance Package™" service which explains exactly which licenses, permits, and tax registrations are required for your business, ensuring license compliance on every level. This way business owners can ensure that they are applying or renewing their licenses in the correct fashion without falling prey to scammers.

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