SCAM ALERT USCG documentation renewal

[IRGuy]

I just read this on The Hull Truth...

Apparently a company (possibly more than one) has been notifying documented boat owners that their documentation is up for it's annual renewal. They state the charge, (at least in one case) is $75. They provide a renewal form which is very close to the actual USCG form, and have a name and email address which appears to look official. It turns out that they are a private company that will act as a boat owner's representative and submit the info on the form to the USCG and you are then sent a valid renewed documentation directly by the USCG. The scam is that they haven't done anything except you have paid $75 for a service that is not necessary because you can directly on your own redocument your boat for $26, the present cost by the USCG.