There has been a new company sending out unsolicited letters and offering to perform Documentation services for fishing vessels. These ‘Certificate of Documentation Courtesy Renewal Notices’ closely resemble US Coast Guard’s’ National Vessel Documentation Center’ notices, however, the US Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) in Falling Waters, West Virginia is the only entity authorized to issue Certificates of Documentation, form CG-1270.
Complaints regarding these scams can be made through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) here: https://www.ftc.gov/
The full Maritime Safety Information Bulletin concerning the false Certificates of Documentation is here.