Protecting your Business

Business Identity Theft

Protecting your Business and Resources

What is Business Identity Theft?

In the case of a business, a criminal takes over the identity of a business and uses that identity to establish lines of credit with banks or retailers. Using this credit, the identity thief purchases goods, gift cards, and other items that can be bought and exchanged for cash, or sold with relative ease.

The damage can be devastating to the business and to the credit history. This can lead to denial of credit. Correcting the damage can be both costly and timely.

Take the following initial steps to protect your business from identity theft

- Sign up for Secure Business Filing. Secure Business Filing works best when you include more email addresses of trusted parties, so that you are not locked out of your account. Other trusted parties to consider are:

Your registered agent
Your accountant
Your lawyer
You can also add yourself under another email address

- Subscribe to the Secretary of State's e-mail notification services

- Obtain a commercial credit report for your business

- Sign up for electronic notifications with your bank, other creditors, and service providers

These are your first steps to protecting your business. Your effort should not stop there. For more information on additional steps to protect your business, see the Business Identity Theft Resource Guide available at:

Business Identity Theft Resource Guide

Victims of Business Identity Theft

If you believe your business is a victim of identity theft, you should immediately take the following steps to begin the recovery process:

Report the theft to your local law enforcement agency
Contact all your business's banks, or credit providers and report the theft
Contact credit reporting agencies and speak with the fraud department to report the crime and view your business credit report

For a complete list, see the Business Identity Theft Resource Guide available at:

Business Identity Theft Resource Guide

If you need support, contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and request the help of a Victim's Advocate.

Who to Contact

Colorado Secretary of State Business Division

1700 Broadway, Ste 550
Denver, CO 80290
Phone: 303-894-2200

Email: business@coloradosos.gov

Website: coloradosos.gov

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Identity Theft Unit

690 Kipling Street, Ste 3000
Denver, CO 80215
Phone: 303-239-4242

Email: cbi.stopidtheft@state.co.us

Website: cbivictimsupport.com

Colorado Attorney General's Office

1525 Sherman Street, 7th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-4500

File complaint: coag.gov/file-complaint

Website: coloradoattorneygeneral.gov

Business ID Theft Resource Guide

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation ID Theft Unit, the Colorado Attorney General, and the Colorado Secretary of State have developed the Business Identity Theft Resource Guide to provide businesses and their representatives with a complete reference guide on business identity theft.

This guide is available by visiting the following link:

Business Identity Theft Resource Guide

We would like to thank the Colorado Bankers Association, the Secretary of State’s Business Advisory Committee, the Colorado Bar Association, and the Chambers of Commerce for helping to distribute this information to the business community.