An Australian real estate broker, Thomas Mifsud, has warned businesses after receiving a misleading letter designed to look like an official invoice, demanding a $449 "registration review fee". The letter, sent by Registration Pty Ltd and Biz Australia Pty Ltd, closely mimicked the legitimate annual review fees businesses must pay to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and used tactics such as an early-bird discount and a QR code payment link to encourage quick payment.

Mifsud only avoided paying after spotting small print on the back stating the document was not a bill and payment was optional, as the senders are an independent third party unaffiliated with ASIC, whose genuine annual fee for private companies is $342. ASIC confirmed it is aware of such letters and had already cancelled the registered agent status of both companies in June for breaching its terms and conditions. After Mifsud shared his experience on LinkedIn, several other business owners said they had received identical letters, with some admitting they had already paid.